One month until Lochaber welcomes the world’s biggest Gaelic event
Mìos ri dhol gus an cuir Loch Abar fàilte air an tachartas Gàidhlig as motha air an t-saoghal is àireamhan air fàs
Translation follows belowAnn am mìos cuiridh sgìre beòthail Loch Abar fàilte air Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail, an tachartas cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig as motha air an t-saoghal, is thig fàs air àireamh an fheadhainn a tha an sàs.
Tha dùil ri còrr air 10,000 farpaiseach, neach-ciùil is neach-tadhail aig an tachartas chliùiteach eadar 10 – 18 Dàmhair 2025 anns a’ Ghearasdan agus san sgìre mun chuairt air a’ bhaile.
Chaidh àrdachadh air àireamh fharpaisich airson an treas bliadhna ann an sreath le còrr air 1,900 iarrtas. Tha mu 200 fharpais anns an tachartas eadar ceòl, bàrdachd, ealain, dannsa is eile, le còrr air 270 buinn no cuach rim buannachadh.
Thairis air na naoi làithean bidh cèilidhean, cuirmean-ciùil, taisbeanaidhean, caismeachd, tachartasan litreachais, blasad bìdh is uisge-beatha sa Ghearsasdan san t-foghar. Na cailleabh cuirm Ar Cànan ’s Ar Ceòl aig am bi tàlant dhe na h-Abraich as fheàrr, leithid Eòghann MacEunraig Mànran, an seinneadair ainmeil Rachel Walker, oidhche phìobaireachd le Ailean Dòmhnallach & Aonghas MacNeacail is eile. Cuideachd bidh cuirm air leth ann le Òrain Alba Nuadh le Màiri Nic’IlleMhoire is Alasdair Roberts.
Seo an naoidheamh Mòd Nàiseanta thèid a chumail ann an Loch Abar. Tha am Mòd 133 bliadhna a dh’aois is tachraidh e ann an sgìre eadar-dhealaichte ann an Alba gach bliadhna.
Tòisichidh am Mòd ann am mìos eile agus tha muinntir Loch Abar, gnìomhachasan agus luchd-ciùil ag ullachadh fàilte chridheil Ghàidhealach mu choinneamh luchd-ciùil.
Cumaidh an companaidh ionadail Busaichean Seile taic ri farpaisich, luchd-ciùil agus luchd-èisteachd gus am faigh iad timcheall na sgìre, chithear bus traidiseanta Mhic a’ Bhriuthainn cuideachd. Tha an teaghlach aig a bheil Busaichean Seile air a bhith a’ cumail taic ris a’ Mhòd o chionn fhada. Chaidh an companaidh a stèidheachadh an Àird nam Murchan agus tha e air fàs gu nàiseanta.
Thuirt Dòmhnall MacGilleBhràith, Busaichean Seile: “Tha sinn air ar dòigh fàilte a chur air an fheadhainn a thig dhan Ghearasdan agus taic a chumail ri tachartas Gàidhlig air leth. Chan e a-mhàin gu bheil am Mòd cudromach dhan luchd-ciùil agus farpaisich ach tha e air leth cudromach dha gnìomhachasan agus dha muinntir na sgìre. ’S e adhbhar moit a th’ anns na goireasan siubhail a chuidicheas daoine a’ dol gu na tachartasan agus tha sinn air leth pròiseil à bus traidiseanta Mhic a’ Bhriuthainn a bhios againn cuideachd. Tha e na urram taic leantainneach a chumail ris a’ Mhòd gus am bi tachartas air leth aig a h-uile duine am bliadhna.”
Thuirt Seumas Greumach, Àrd-oifigear a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich: “Ann am mìos bidh An Gearasdan cho buileach trang le òrain, ceòl, cultar agus coimhearsnachd agus tha a h-uile duine a’ coimhead air adhart ris gu mòr. Tha fàs àireamhan an fheadhainn a tha an sàs san tachartais na dhearbhadh air cho fallainn ’s a tha a’ Ghàidhlig. ’S e adhbhar misneachd a th’ anns an taic a chithear sa choimhearsnachd agus bho chompanaidhean ionadail dhan Mhòd – leis an tachartas air fàire, tha fiughair oirnn bòidheachd sgìre Loch Abar fhaicinn agus e a’ cur fàilte air Gàidheil às gach ceàrnaidh chun tachartais.”
Thuirt Ceannard Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, an Comhairliche Raymond Bremner: “Chan fhada a-nis gus am bi cuirm shònraichte againn ann an Loch Abar.
“Tha sinn a’ dèanamh fiughair ris a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail a bhith a’ tilleadh dhan Ghàidhealtachd, agus tha e soilleir gu bheil luchd-eagrachaidh air sàr phrògram thachartasan a chur air dòigh, le rudeigin dhan a h-uile duine.
“Tha e gu h-àraid brosnachail gu bheil àireamhan nam farpaiseach air a dhol an-àird, agus tha seo na theisteanas air an obair a thathar a’ dèanamh ann an iomadh dachaigh, sgoil is coimhearsnachd, le cuideachadh bho iomairtean a leithid Acadamaidh a’ Mhòid.
“Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd a’ faicinn cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig mar sho-mhaoinean prìseil, a tha a’ toirt grunn bhuannachdan sòisealta is eaconamach dhan sgìre.
“Bheir am Mòd seachad cothrom air leth gus an dealas leantainneach againn dhan chànan a thaisbeanadh agus a chomharrachadh.”
Thuirt Rob Dickson, Ceannard Gnìomhachais is Tachartasan aig VisitScotland: “Tha Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail am measg na tachartasan bhliadhnail againn a tha nan samhla air beartais cultar na h-Alba.
“Tha a’ Ghàidhlig na pàirt cudromach dhan inbhe chultarail againn, is bidh an tachartas am bliadhna a’ còrdadh ri luchd-tadhail agus ri muinntir na sgìre. Am measg tachartasan cultarail is turasachd air leth ann an Alba, cuiridh Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail sgìre Loch Abar air àrd-ùrlar, a’ trusadh luchd-tadhail is a’ cumail taic ri gnìomhachasan ionadail.”
Tha Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail Loch Abar 2025 a’ faighinn taic bho EventScotland (mar phàirt deth VisitScotland), Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, Riaghaltas na h-Alba, Caledonian Mac a’ Bhriuthainn, BBC ALBA, Alba Chruthachail agus SQA.
Tillidh Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail a Loch Abar bho 10 – 18 Dàmhair 2025. Tha tiogaidean prìomh thachartasan rim faighinn aig: https://buytickets.at/ancomunn.
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One month until Lochaber welcomes the world’s biggest Gaelic event as competitor numbers rise
One month from now, the bustling Highland hub of Lochaber will welcome the world’s largest event celebrating Gaelic language and culture when the Royal National Mòd arrives – and participation in the prestigious event is set to rise.
Taking place from 10 – 18 October 2025, the Scottish cultural extravaganza is expected to welcome up to 10,000 competitors, musicians and visitors to Fort William and to the surrounding area.
Competitor numbers have risen for the third consecutive year, with more than 1,900 individual entries. The remarkable event boasts around 200 competition categories, spanning music, poetry, art, dance and more, with more than 270 medals and trophies up for grabs.
The packed nine-day event will also see cèilidhs, concerts, exhibitions, processions, book launches and food and drink tastings take over the streets and venues of Fort William this autumn. Highlights include Saturday’s Ar Cànan ’s Ar Ceòl concert celebrating the best Lochaber talent including Mànran’s Ewen Henderson and celebrated Gaelic singer Rachel Walker, an evening of piping featuring master pipers Allan MacDonald and Angus Nicolson, and a Remembered in Exile concert with Màiri Morrison and Alasdair Roberts sharing songs and ballads from Nova Scotia.
This year marks the ninth time Lochaber has hosted the 133-year-old event, which travels to a different location in Scotland each year.
With one month until the action gets underway, Lochaber residents, businesses and musicians are preparing to give visitors a warm Highland welcome.
Local company Shiel Buses will be on hand to help competitors, performers and audiences hop around Fort William with their shuttle service, which will include the vintage MacBraynes bus in their fleet. Long-time supporters of the Mòd, family-run Shiel Buses was founded in Ardanamurchan and has grown to provide transport on a national scale.
Sharing their excitement, Donald MacGillivary said: “We’re thrilled to play our part in welcoming visitors to Fort William and supporting this incredible celebration of Gaelic culture. The Mòd is not only a highlight for musicians and performers but also a vital boost for local businesses and the wider community. We’re proud to provide transport that connects people to the heart of the action, and we’re especially excited to showcase the vintage MacBraynes bus as part of the experience. It’s an honour to continue our long-standing support of the Mòd and to help make this year’s event a memorable one for all.”
James Graham, Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “One month from now Fort William will be a bustling hub of song, music, culture and community, and the excitement is palpable. With growing numbers of participants, the event shows just what a living, breathing, thriving language Gaelic is. It’s fantastic to see the community’s enthusiasm and the support from local businesses for the Mòd – as the countdown begins, we look forward to seeing Lochaber shine as it welcomes Gaels from across Scotland and beyond to this unforgettable gathering.”
Highland Council Leader Raymond Bremner said: “The anticipation is really starting to build now towards what will be a fantastic celebration in Lochaber.
“We are all looking forward to the Royal National Mòd’s return to the Highlands, and it’s clear that organisers have put together an excellent programme of events with something for everyone.
“It is especially encouraging to see that competitor numbers have risen, which is testament to the work being done in so many homes, schools and communities, helped by initiatives like the Mòd Academy. Highland Council sees Gaelic and culture as prized assets, which carry enormous social and economic benefits for the area.
“The Royal National Mòd will provide a terrific opportunity to showcase and celebrate our long-standing commitment to the language.”
Rob Dickson, Director of Industry and Events at VisitScotland, said: “The Royal National Mòd is part of our diverse portfolio of annual events and festivals that celebrate Scotland’s rich cultural heritage.
“Gaelic is a key part of our cultural identity, and this year’s event will once again be a wonderful showcase of language and culture for both visitors and locals to enjoy. As part of Scotland’s world-class tourism and events offering, the Royal National Mòd will shine a spotlight on Lochaber and the surrounding area, helping to draw visitors and support local businesses.”
Organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach, the Royal National Mòd provides an essential platform for using, improving and showcasing Gaelic for thousands of speakers, learners and supporters.
This year’s event is supported by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Highland Council, The Scottish Government, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA, Creative Scotland and SQA.
The Royal National Mòd returns to Lochaber in 2025, from 10 - 18 October. Tickets for flagship events are on sale now, visit https://buytickets.at/ancomunn.
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Press release issued by An Comunn Gàidhealach