Issued by An Comunn Gàidhealach
Thàlaidh am fosgladh sluagh mòr ann is gar fàgail air ar bioran mu na tha romhainn.
Thàlaidh deireadh-seachdain an fhosglaidh sluagh mòr gu Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail 2025 ann an Loch Abar is e a’ tòiseachadh air ceum deiseil le sluagh na fèise is gar fàgail air ar bioran mu na tha romhainn tron t-seachdain air fad.
Chaidh a stèidheachadh leis a’ Chomunn Ghàidhealach ann an 1891 airson teagasg, ionnsachadh is cleachdadh na Gàidhlig a bhrosnachadh ach cha robh nòisean aig daoine aig an àm dè cho cudromach ’s a dh’fhàsadh an tachartas seo – agus chan eil coltas sam bith gu bheil an taic dhan fhèis seo a’ dol an lughad idir.
Thàinig an dà chuid muinntir an àite agus luchd-tadhail cruinn aig blàran-iomain Loch Abar a dh’fhaicinn grunn sgioba ionadail a’ toirt buaidh. Choisinn Lunn Dà Bhrà Cupa Òigridh a’ Mhòid agus bhuannaich Loch Abar Cupa nam Ban, a’ togail Geall-dùbhlain LearnGaelic an dèidh dhaibh buannachadh air peanasan. Chaidh an latha le Baile a’ Chaolais ann an Cupa nam Fear is choisinn iad Geall-dùbhlain na h-Aghaidh Mòire aig an Àird.
Bha Pàirc Àrd-sgoil Loch Abar a cheart cho trang, le sgioba nam fear aig Comann Buill-choise Alba a’ cur fallais air a’ chiad latha dhen champa trèanaidh aca a mhaireas dà latha. Tha Alba FA, guth Gàidhlig ann an saoghal a’ bhuill-choise, a’ cleachdadh ball-coise mar chulaidh-cheangail is brosnachaidh agus airson fàs a thoirt air a’ Ghàidhlig.
Air taobh eile na fèise, bha cha mhòr 200 co-fharpais ann an ceòl is cultar na Gàidhlig a’ tòiseachadh, a’ gabhail a-staigh latha mòr de cho-fharpaisean ann an ceòl tradaiseanta eadar an fhìdheall, am bogsa-ciùil is am piàno agus farpaisean pìobaireachd a’ Mhòid, rud a bhios teann an-còmhnaidh.
Bha a’ phìobaireachd òigridh ’s inbheach a’ dol ann an Àrd-sgoil Loch Abar agus ’s e Cameron May à Dillarburn ann an Siorrachd Lannraig a Deas a choisinn Pìobaireachd prìomh dhuais na pìobaireachd agus Ìre A.
Ann am pìobaireachd òigridh, chaidh an latha le Lily Robertson, aois 16, o Àrd-sgoil an Òbain a choisinn an W.G.G. ’S e Wilson Trophy ann am buidheann pìobaireachd 16-18 agus Charlie Mack, aois 16, o Àrd-sgoil Preston Lodge ann an Lodainn an Ear a bhuannaich Cupa Fiùsailearan Rìoghail na Gàidhealtachd ann am buidheann 16-18 ‘Caismeachd, Srath Spè is Rìdhle’. Sa bhuidheann 16-18 ‘ Port grad-charach is port cruinn’, ’s e Ùistean Raghnaill MacAnndrais a bhuannaich, a’ togail Geall-dùbhlan Dùghall Caimbeul MacComhain (An t-Òban).
Sa cho-fharpais fo aois 16 ann am pìobaireachd, ’s e Seumas Silcock, aois 14 às an Eaglais Bhreac a bhuannaich duais aig a’ Mhòd a’ chiad turas, a’ togail Geall-dùbhlain Cuimhneachan an t-Ollaimh DS MacLagain. Choisinn Seumas cuideachd an dàrna àite ann an co-fharpaisean ‘Caismeachd 2/4’ fo aois 16 agus ‘Srath Spè is Rìdhle’ fo 16.
’S e Seonaidh Forrest às an Eilean Sgitheanach, o Àrd-sgoil a’ Phluic a choisinn duais ‘Caismeachd 2/4’ fo 16, a’ toirt dhachaigh Cuach Ruairidh Rothaich ach ’s e Harris Morford o Acadamaidh Locarbaidh a choisinn a’ chiad àite sa buidheann ‘Srath Spè is rìdhle’ fo 16.
Dhan fheadhainn a tha dèidheil air na h-ealain, chaidh taisbeanadh Duais Ealain na Gàidhealtachd 2025 fhosgladh gu h-oifigeach ann an Taigh-ealain MhicCaluim sa Ghearastan – agus na lùib, chaidh na h-obraichean-ealain a th’ air a’ gheàrr-liosta am-bliadhna fhoillseachadh.
Thagh na britheamhan, Beth Robastan Fiddes agus Donaidh Rothach, iad fhèin nan sàr luchd-ealain cuideachd, an 12 obair-ealain a leanas dhen 70 a tha gan taisbeanadh o fheadh na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean:
- Stacks at Mangersta le Lillian Crichton, Open Studios Hebrides
- Cnoc Fuar le Mike Darling, An Tobar agus Tèatar Mhuile
- Falls le Laura Donkers, Comann Ealain Uibhist
- The World’s on Fire le Christine NicEòghainn, Comann Ealain Inbhir Nis
- Narrowlands le Daniel Freytag, Artmap Earra-Ghàidheal
- George’s Window of Contentment le Carole Gutteridge, Comann Luchd-ealain Bhàideanach is Shrath Spè
- Washed Up/Bàrrlach le Anna Nic an Fhithich, Urras-ealain An Ealdhain, Loch Abar
- High Up le Stephen Redpath, An Talla Solais, Ulapul
- Tràigh – “Ciamar nach do mhair an reothart” le Charlie Scott, Club nan Ealan Albannach
- Borrowdale le Debbie Shepherd, Comann Luchd-ealain Bhàideanach is Shrath Spè
- Fear-faire an iar-thuath le Catrìona Sutharlannach, Comann Ealain Machair Chat
- Who Controls the Past Controls the Future, Who Controls the Present Controls the Past le Iain MacGilleBhàin, Comann Ealain Inbhir Nis.
Mairidh an taisbeanadh poblach gu ruige Disathairne 18mh dhen Dàmhair agus thèid na duaisean a thoirt seachad Dihaoine 17mh dhen Dàmhair 12:30f. Gheibh an neach a bhuannaicheas agus buidheann ionadail nan ealan aca £1,000 còmhla am-bliadhna agus cothrom na h-obraichean a shealltainn aig a’ Bhriggait ann an Glaschu, taing dha Wasp Studios.
’S e cuirm-chiùil Ar Cànan ’s Ar Ceòl air a bheil fèill mhòr an-còmhnaidh a thug latha comharradh na Gàidhlig gu crìoch. Fo stiùir bata-ciùil Eòghainn MacEanraig à Loch Abar, fhuair an luchd-èisteachd feasgar de cheòl is dannsa.
Bha taisbeantasan ann le còmhlain-phìoba, còisirean Gàidhlig, Comann Srath Spè ’s Rìdhleachan Loch Abar, Cèilidh air Chuairt le Fèis Loch Abar, am buidheann ‘Sealladh’ o Àrd-sgoil Àird nam Murchan agus an Jane Douglas School of Dance. Agus a bharrachd air sin, còmhlan-taighe glè shònraichte le luchd-ciùil Loch Abar, Eòghann e fhèin, Raonaid Nic an Fhùcadair, Aonghas MacNeacail, Ros MacMhàrtainn agus Raibeart Nairn.
Mar a tha an treas latha dhen Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail 2025 air fàire, tha cothrom cnuasachaidh is adhraidh ann aig Seirbheis Eaglais a’ Mhòid a bhios ann an Eaglais Baile Dhonnchaidh aig 2.30f agus thèid an t-seirbheis a bheò-chraoladh air BBC Radio nan Gàidheal.
Suas pìos dhen fheasgar bidh Ceòl Soisgeulach Ceilteach ann an Eaglais Baile Dhonnchaidh cuideachd, a’ toirt taing tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig, ceòl is òrain, a’ tòiseachadh aig 7f.
Thuirt Seumas Greumach, Àrd-oifigear Gnìomha a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich aig an ìre-sa: “Tha e cho mìorbhaileach Gàidhlig a chluinntinn anns gach oisean dhen Ghearastan agus a’ faicinn ealain, cultar is spòrs a’ chànain air feadh an àite, rudeigin nach tachair ach aig a’ Mhòd.
“Tha e a’ sealltainn dhuinn cho soilleir na chuireas sinn air saod ma thig sinn cruinn còmhla a chomharradh rud agus, tha mi an dòchas, gun toir e brosnachadh do Ghàidheil òga às ùr an struileag a thogail, a dhèanamh cinnteach gun soirbhich am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail e fhèin agus a’ Ghàidhlig aig a chridhe o ghlùin gu glùin.”
A’ coimhead air adhart gu Diluain 13mh dhen Dàmhair, bidh pailteas rudan ann a chòrdas do Ghàidheil òga agus do dhaoine a th’ air ùr-thighinn dhan a’ chànan. Bidh seisean Bookbug ann dhan fheadhainn fo aois còig, le sgeulachdan, òrain is rannan agus bidh fàilte ro mhàthraichean, athraichean is luchd-cùraim.
Dhan fheadhainn sa bhun-sgoil, bidh club Sradagan do chlann Ghàidhlig agus bidh cothrom dhan fheadhainn eadar 7 is 11 bliadhna a dh’aois a dhol an sàs telebhisean le sgioba CBBC ALBA agus dhan fheadhainn eadar 8 is 12 cothrom bòrdadh-seasaimh ionnsachadh. Do dheugairean aig a bheil Gàidhlig, bidh cothrom air grad-chùrsa ann an cruthachadh susbainte agus saothrachadh video mar phàirt de bhuidheann Cruth.
Tha pailteas ann do Ghàidheil de dh’aois sam bith eadar deas-ghnàth Duaisean Litreachais na Cloinne, bùth-obrach Moladh Eisirean, a’ chiad chèilidh teaghlaich (bidh fear eile ann) agus A’ Seinn na Pìoba air an fheasgar.
Fhuair am Mòd taic o EventScotland, na phàirt de VisitScotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, Riaghaltas na h-Alba, Cailleannach Mac a’ Bhriuthainn, BBC ALBA, Alba Chruthachail agus SQA am bliadhna.
Thig Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail ann an Loch Abar gu crìoch air an 18mh dhen Dàmhair. Gheibhear tiocaidean airson na tachartasan mòra aig https://buytickets.at/ancomunn (external link).
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Royal National Mòd 2025 strikes the right note with festivalgoers
Packed opening weekend draws the crowds and sets expectations high.
A packed opening weekend at Royal National Mòd 2025 in Lochaber has struck the right note with festivalgoers, drawing crowds and setting expectations high for what’s still to come over the week ahead.
Founded in 1891 by An Comunn Gaidhealach to encourage the teaching, learning and use of the Gaelic language, few could have envisaged how significant the event would become – with support for the festival showing no signs of abating.
Locals and visitors alike lined Lochaber’s shinty pitches yesterday to witness a raft of home region wins. Lundavra claimed the Youth Mòd Cup, while Lochaber won the Women’s Mòd Cup, lifting the LearnGaelic Trophy after a win on penalties. Ballachulish emerged victors in the Men’s Mòd Cup to take the Aviemore Trophy at An Àird.
Lochaber High School Astro was every bit as busy, with Alba Football Association men’s team being put through their paces in the first of two days of Training Camp. A voice for Gaelic in football, Alba FA uses football as a force to connect, inspire and grow Scottish Gaelic.
Away from sports, close to 200 competitions in Gaelic music and culture got underway, including a busy day of traditional music competitions spanning fiddle, accordion and piano and the fiercely contested Mòd Piping Championships.
Junior and senior piping took place at Lochaber High School and it was Cameron May from Dillarburn in South Lanarkshire who took the Pìobaireachd Premier & A Grade piping title.
In the junior piping, Oban High School’s Lily Robertson, age 16, scooped the W.G.G. Wilson Trophy for the 16-18 Piobaireachd, and 16-year-old Charlie Mack, of East Lothian’s Preston Lodge High School, took the Royal Highland Fusiliers Cup for the 16-18 March, Strathspey and Reel. In the 16-18 Hornpipe & Jig, Tobermory High School student Hugh Ronald Anderson came out on top, lifting the Dugald Campbell Cowan (Oban) Trophy.
In the under 16s Pìobaireachd competition, 14-year-old James Silcock from Falkirk celebrated his first ever win at the Mòd, lifting the Dr DS MacLaggan Memorial Trophy. James also placed second in both the Under 16s 2/4 March and Under 16s Strathspey and Reel competitions.
Hailing from Skye, 15-year-old Seonaidh Forrest of Plockton High School won the Under 16 2/4 March title, taking home the Roderick Munro Quaich, while Lockerbie Academy’s Harris Morford took first place in the Strathspey and Reel category for under 16s.
For art lovers, there was the official opening of the 2025 Highland Art Prize exhibition at McCallum Art House in Fort William – and with it, the much-anticipated unveiling of this year’s shortlisted artworks.
Judges Beth Robertson Fiddes and Donnie Munro, both accomplished artists in their own rights, selected the following 12 artworks from the 70 on show from across the Highlands and Islands:
- Stacks at Mangersta by Lillian Crichton, Open Studios Hebrides
- Cnoc Fuar by Mike Darling, An Tobar and Mull Theatre
- Falls by Laura Donkers, Uist Arts Association
- The World's on Fire by Christine Ewan, Art Society of Inverness
- Narrowlands by Daniel Freytag, Artmap Argyll
- George's Window of Contentment by Carole Gutteridge, Society of Badenoch and Strathspey Artists
- Washed Up/Bàrrlach by Anna Raven/Anna Nic an Fhithich, An Ealdhain Arts Trust, Lochaber
- High Up by Stephen Redpath, An Talla Solais, Ullapool
- Shore – “Why did the spring-tide not last”/Tràigh – “Ciamar nach do mhair an reothart” by Charlie Scott, Scottish Arts Club
- Borrowdale by Debbie Shepherd, Society of Badenoch and Strathspey Artists
- Sentinel of the Northwest/Fear-faire an iar-thuath by Katherine Sutherland, East Sutherland Art Society
- Who Controls the Past Controls the Future, Who Controls the Present Controls the Past by Ian Whyte, Art Society of Inverness.
The exhibition will be on display to the public until Saturday 18 October, with the prize-giving taking place on Friday 17 October from 12.30pm. This year’s winner will receive £1,000 to be shared with their local art organisation, along with the opportunity to exhibit at The Briggait in Glasgow, courtesy of Wasps Studios.
Bringing the day’s Gaelic celebrations to a close was the ever-popular Ar Cànan ‘s Ar Ceòl (Our Language Our Music) concert. With musical direction by Lochaber’s own talent Ewen Henderson, the audience was treated to an evening of music and dance.
There were live performances by pipe bands, Gaelic choirs, Lochaber Strathspey and Reel Society, Fèis Lochabair Cèilidh Trail, Ardnamurchan High School group ‘Sealladh’ and the Jane Douglas School of Dance. Not forgetting a very special house-band consisting of Lochaber musicians Ewen himself, Rachel Walker, Angus Nicolson, Ross Martin and Robert Nairn.
As day three of the Royal National Mòd 2025 gets underway, there’s the opportunity for reflection and worship at the Mòd Church Service which takes place from 2.30pm at Duncansburgh Church, with the service broadcast live on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal.
Later this evening, Duncansburgh Church will also play host to a night of Celtic Praise, giving thanks through Gaelic language, music and song, starting at 7pm.
James Graham, outgoing Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “It’s a quite incredible feeling to hear the Gaelic language spoken in every corner of Fort William and to see its arts, culture and sports showcased at every turn, something that only the Mòd can deliver.
“It really hits home just how much can be achieved when people come together in celebration and, hopefully, will go a long way to further inspire our younger Gaels to take up the baton and help ensure that the Royal National Mòd itself, and the Gaelic way of life at its heart, thrive for generations to come.”
Looking ahead to Monday 13 October, there are a whole host of activities to engage younger Gaels and newcomers to the language. For children aged five and under, there will be a Bookbug story, song and rhyme session, with mums, dads and carers all welcome.
For primary-aged children there will be a Sradagan Children’s Gaelic Club, along with the chance for seven to 11 year olds to try their hand in television with the CBBC ALBA team, and for eight to 12 year olds to learn Stand Up Paddleboarding. And for Gaelic-tongued teens, there’s the opportunity to take a crash course in content creation and video production as part of a Cruth cohort.
For Gaels of all ages to enjoy, meanwhile, there’s the Junior Literature Prizegiving ceremony, A Celebration of Oysters workshop, the first of two Family Cèilidhs and an evening Piping Recital.
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 runs in Lochaber until 18 October. Tickets for flagship events at https://buytickets.at/ancomunn (external link).