Q: What is The Royal National Mod?
The Mod is the Scottish Gaelic community's annual festival celebrating its language and culture. It is known as Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail, or Am Mòd for short.
Q: When was Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail first held?
The festival was first held in Oban in 1892.
Q: Where is Am Mòd being held this year?
This year's Mòd is being held in Falkirk. It was allocated to the town in 2005, following a successful bid to host the event from the Local Organising Committee, chaired by Cllr Angus MacDonald. Preparations for the event have gone very well, strongly supported with finance and staff time by Falkirk Council. They appointed a Mòd Events Officer (James Graham, Mòd Gold Medallist 2006) to work in conjunction with all parties involved in preparatory work. He will remain in post until after the 2008 Mòd.
Q: Why is Am Mòd being held in Falkirk?
This year's Mòd is themed "The Mod is Coming Home", which might seem a curious slogan as the Mòd has never been held in Falkirk before. However the slogan arises from the annual Trysts that were held in Falkirk over the centuries, where drovers and cattle dealers from all over the Highlands and Islands would converge on the town to buy and sell their livestock. "The Mod is Coming Home" because the whole concept of the Highland Gathering is considered to have originated in Falkirk.
Q: Where was Am Mòd held in 2007?
The Royal National Mod 2007 was held in Lochaber and was particularly successful, attracting large attendances, and being greatly praised by participants. Subsequently the event was publicly voted the "Event of the Year" at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards 2007.
Q: What is the format of the competition?
Am Mòd is mostly competition-based. It is an 8-day festival with a strong language emphasis, attracting around 1200 competitors. There is a focus on junior competitions at the beginning of the week and adult events toward the end. The week culminates in the award of Gold Medals (traditional and non-traditional) for solo singers, and the Lovat & Tullibardine trophy for the top choir.
Q: How many people attend Am Mòd ?
In the course of the week, over 10,000 people are expected to attend Am Mòd, and it is estimated to bring up to £2million in economic benefit to the host area, at an off-peak period in the tourist season.
Q: Where will Mòd be held next year?
Future Mòds will be in Oban (2009) and Caithness (2010). The host area for 2011 will be announced at this year's event.