The Royal National Mod, (Scottish Gaelic: Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail), is the annual national mod, a festival of Scottish Gaelic song, arts and culture. Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. A mod is a festival of Scottish Gaelic song arts and culture Historically the Gaelic word mòd refers to any kind of assembly Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. It was founded by and run by An Comunn Gaidhealach. An Comunn Gàidhealach (literally The Gaelic Association) is an organisation in Scotland which seeks to promote Gaelic language and culture St Columba's Church, Glasgow greatly influenced the Mod's inception when, in 1891, its choir was invited to give a Gaelic Concert in Oban, presided over by Lord Archibald Campbell. The Church of Scotland congregation of St Columba in Glasgow dates back to 1770 The concert was a huge success and was attended by most of the nobility, including Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife. The Princess Louise Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife (Louise Victoria Alexandra Dagmar 20 February 1867 – 4 January 1931) was the After the Concert the Choir were entertained to supper at the Alexandra Hotel, and a description of the entertainment is given in one of William Black's novels. William Black ( November 13, 1841 &ndash December 10, 1898) was a Novelist born in Glasgow, Scotland to James This concert was the prelude to the Gaelic Mod, the first being held at Oban the following year, when St. Oban ( An t-Òban in Scottish Gaelic meaning The Little Bay) is a Resort Town within the Argyll and Bute council area Columba Choir were successful in the Choir competition. It has been held most years in October since 1892 It is usually just called The Mod. Year 1892 ( MDCCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year The only years in which the National Mod was not held were the war years of 1914-1919 and 1939-1946. The "Royal" was not originally part of the name. It is still the practice of the St Columba's Church to send a Concert Party to start off the fund-raising when the Mod visits Oban. Oban ( An t-Òban in Scottish Gaelic meaning The Little Bay) is a Resort Town within the Argyll and Bute council area As well as winning the premier Choir competition for the first three years, the church has also had many Mod Gold Medallists including it's present minister, the Reverend Donald Michael MacInnes, who took the premier award in 1990
The Mod largely takes the form of formal competitions. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Choral events (in Scottish Gaelic, both solo and choirs), and traditional music including fiddle, bagpipe, clarsach and folk groups dominate. For the musical composition see Chorale. A choir, chorale, or chorus is a Musical ensemble of Singers Bagpipes are a class of Musical instrument, Aerophones using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag Clàrsach ( Scots Gaelic) Cláirseach ( Middle Irish) are the Gaelic words for 'a Harp ' Spoken word events include children and adult's poetry reading, storytelling and Bible reading, and categories such as Ancient Folk Tale or Humorous Monologue. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin A monologue is an extended uninterrupted speech or poem by a single person Children can also present an original drama, and there are competitions in written literature. Drama is the specific mode of Fiction represented in Performance. Literature is the Art of written works Literally translated the word means "acquaintance with letters" (from Latin littera letter The Mod also runs an annual shinty competition, the Mod Cup, between the two shinty teams closest to the place where the Mod is taking place. Shinty (derived from the Scottish Gaelic sinteag although it is referred to as camanachd or iomain in modern Gaelic is a Team sport
The winners of each day's competitions are invited to perform in the winners' ceilidhs held every evening.
The Mod draws a large crowd, which leads local venues to put on various events in addition to the official Mod events. These events are collectively referred to as The Mod Fringe, analogously to Edinburgh Festival Fringe which began as a group of independent artists performing in Edinburgh at the same time as the Edinburgh International Festival. The Edinburgh Fringe (officially the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, commonly just The Fringe) is the world’s largest Arts festival. The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of Performing arts that takes place in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, over three weeks from around
Culturally, the Mod is comparable to the Welsh Eisteddfod. Welsh ( cy Cymraeg or cy y Gymraeg, kəmˈrɑːɨɡ and {{IPA|[ə ɡəmˈrɑːɨɡ]}}, is a member of the Brythonic branch of Celtic See also An eisteddfod (aɪˈstɛðvəd Welsh ə(iˈstɛðvɔd plural eisteddfodau or eisteddfods) is a Welsh Festival
To participants, the Mod is also an opportunity to meet with old friends and make new ones. The Mod is popularly known as the "Whisky Olympics"[1]. Scotch whisky is Whisky made in Scotland. In Britain the term whisky is usually taken to mean Scotch unless otherwise specified
Past and Future festivals
The Mod is held each October, and has been held in locations throughout Scotland, both highland and lowland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The Scottish Highlands ( Scottish Gaelic: A' Ghàidhealtachd, Scots: Hielans) include the rugged and Mountainous The Scottish Lowlands ( a' Ghalldachd, meaning roughly 'the non-Gaelic region' in Gaelic, and called Lawlands or Lallans in Scots Recent and future locations include:
- 2000 - Dunoon
- 2001 - Stornoway
- 2002 - Largs
- 2003 - Oban – the 100th Royal National Mod,
- 2004 - Perth
- 2005 - Stornoway
- 2006 - Dunoon
- 2007 - Lochaber
- 2008 - Falkirk
- 2009 - Oban
- 2010 - Caithness
References
External links
- Royal National Mod
- Origins of the Mod
- The Association of Gaelic Choirs
- Picture
- Royal National Mod, Falkirk 10th-18th October 2008
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