National Mòd

The Royal National Mòd
Genre	Poetry, Folk music, Traditional music, Choral music, Spoken word, Drama
Dates	October
Location(s)	Scotland
Years active	1892 – present

The Royal National Mòd (Scottish Gaelic: Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail) is the most important of several major Mòds that are held annually, mostly in Scotland. It is the main festival of Scottish Gaelic literature, song, arts and culture, and one of the more notable peripatetic cultural festivals in Scotland. It is often referred to simply as the Mòd.

The Mòd is run by An Comunn Gàidhealach (The Gaelic Association), and includes competitions and awards.

The Mòd was founded by An Comunn Gàidhealach. St Columba's Church, Glasgow also greatly influenced the Mòd's inception when, in 1891, its choir was invited to give a Gaelic Concert in Oban, presided over by Lord Archibald Campbell. The concert was attended by much of the nobility, including Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife. 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. This concert was the prelude to the Gaelic Mòd, the first being held at Oban the following year, when St. Columba Choir were successful in the Choir competition.

The Mòd has been held most years in October since 1892. The only years in which the National Mòd 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 Mòd visits Oban. As well as winning the premier Choir competition for the first three years, the church has also had many Mòd Gold Medallists over the years.

The Mòd itself has been greatly influenced by the National Eisteddfod of Wales, although it tends to be somewhat more restrained in its ceremonial aspects.

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Wikipedia