The Royal National Mòd

What is the Royal National Mòd?

The Royal National Mòd (the Mòd) is a festival of Gaelic song, arts and culture that takes place every year and is often labelled Scotland’s main Gaelic cultural festival. The Mòd, which organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach (The Highland Association), is a peripatetic festival, meaning it is hosted in a different town every year, giving communities all over Scotland the chance to engage with Gaelic culture. 

The Mòd is mostly made up of formal competitions for individuals and groups, such as piping, singing (both solo and for choirs), playing the fiddle, highland dancing, drama, storytelling and poetry. The competitions are split into Junior and senior categories, with the junior competitions taking place towards the beginning of the Mòd week and the senior competitions running later in the week.

Usually, the entrants of the performance categories would take part in a formal competition, each getting a turn to perform live in front of the audience and judges. The judges score all of the competitors based on different factors, depending on the competition, and announce the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place finishers. The placed finishers are then given a medal or trophy, again depending on the competition, and the winner is asked to perform at the evening Ceilidh (social gathering/concert) later that night.

The competitive events are also supported by a lot of non-competitive ‘Fringe’ events for the people who come together to celebrate the Mòd to enjoy, including performances from some of Scotland’s top traditional musicians and Gaelic singers.

When is the Royal National Mòd?

This year’s Royal National Mòd was held in Paisley last year, check out some of our highlights below!

@young.scot Tha Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail air tòiseachadh! ’S e fèis Ghàidhlig a th’ anns a’ Mhòd a bheir cothroman do dhaoine de gach aois tharis air raon de cho-fharpaisean. The Royal National Mòd has begun! The Mòd is a Gaelic festival that provides opportunities for people of all ages to perform across a range of competitions. #Mod #2023 #Gaelic #Gaidhlig #Cleachdi #Paisley #YoungScot ♬ Blue Ocean – Muspace Lofi

@young.scot Tha @Somhairle ⛰️🍃🚐🥾⛺️ air a bhith ag obair aig Sruth aig Mòd na bliadhna seo ann am Pàislig. Thug Sruth cothrom do dhaoine òga bruidhinn mu na tha iad ag iarraidh anns a Ghàidhlig! Ma tha thu airson barrachd fiosrachaidh mun Mhòd neo Ghàidhlig thoir sùil air young.scot/Gaelic Sorley has been working at Sruth at this years Mòd in Paisley. Sruth gave young people the chance to speak about what they want in Gaelic! If you want to learn more about the Mòd or Gaelic check out young.scot/Gaelic #Gaelic #Gàidhlig #Sruth #Mòd #Paisley #YoungScot #Scotland ♬ Cafe / video cute lofi ♪ Chill(885831) – ImoKenpi-Dou

@young.scot An robh thu riamh aig a' Mhòd? 🏆Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh agus goireasan co-cheangailte ris a’ Ghàidhlig tadhal air young.scot/Gaelic Have you ever been to the Mòd?🏆 For more information and resources related to Gaelic go to young.scot/Gaelic #Gaelic #Gàidhlig #Mòd #Paisley #Scotland #Cleachdi #SpeakGaelic #YoungScot #ComeWithUs ♬ Vibrant Elicit – DJ BAI

Where to Watch

Because the Royal National Mòd is being shared on An Comunn Gàidhealach’s social media accounts, you have a few options of where you’d prefer to tune in.

• An Comunn Gàidhealach’s Facebook Page
• An Comunn Gàidhealach’s YouTube channel
• An Comunn Gàidhealach’s Instagram Page

If you can’t wait to start enjoying all that the Mòd has to offer, why not watch this episode of ‘Taigh Ceilidh a’ Mhòid’ (The Mòd Ceilidh House)?

If yo want to see more episodes of ‘Taigh Ceilidh a’ Mhòid’, you can find them on An Comunn Gàidhealach’s YouTube page!

There are lots of ways you can support the Royal National Mòd, so if you want to do so you can find out more here.

Head back to the #YSGaelic landing page for more Gaelic content and information.