As Glasgow prepares to welcome the world’s biggest Gaelic language, culture and music festival next month – the Royal National Mòd – the event’s fringe programme is launching with a special celebration of over 1,000 years of Gaelic poetry.
Contemporary arts venue Tramway in the city’s southside is the stage on Thursday 10 September for Oidhche nam Bàrd – Poetry in Art and Sound.
The ‘Night of the Poets’ will offer lovers of live performance, spoken word and music – whether they speak Gaelic or not – a unique evening of entertainment featuring a line-up of acclaimed and award-winning talent.
Taking part, and reciting works that weave together the Gaelic voices of the past and the words of contemporary living poet are ten of the leading, most-published poets in Scottish Gaelic.
These include Peter Mackay, Scotland’s makar or national poet, Niall O’Gallagher, the Bard Baile Ghlaschu or Gaelic poet laureate for Glasgow, and Meg Bateman and Anne Frater whose works are used in the Scottish curriculum for Gaelic.
All of the poetry recitals, as well as readings, by actors, of Gaelic literature will be accompanied by on-screen translations in English so their meaning and message can be enjoyed by a diverse range of audiences.
Scotland’s makar, poet Peter Mackay, said: “This event promises to be a glorious, evocative celebration of Gaelic poetry. Poetry and song have been central to Gaelic culture for over 1,000 and are still a crucial and vibrant part of Gaelic life; I’m looking forward to the echoes and resonances from past poems and how they sit alongside some of our best living writers.”
The Oidhche nam Bàrd – Poetry in Art and Sound programme also features song by performers including celebrated traditional Gaelic singer Claire Frances MacNeil – a semi-finalist in BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year last year, as well as Gaelic teacher, composer and traditional singer Gillebride MacMillan.
The evening’s exceptional musical talent also includes performances by the much-admired clarsach player, pianist and recording artist Ingrid Henderson, and Glasgow-based, Scottish-Icelandic percussionist Signy Jacobdottir – a former Musician of the Year nominee in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.
Accompanying all of the entertainment will be visual projections specially commissioned for the event and produced by Cashlin MacKenzie, a Gaelic-speaking multidisciplinary artist and Glasgow School of Art graduate who creates work across film, sound and arts installation.
For the complete list of performers taking part in Oidhche nam Bàrd – Poetry in Art and Sound and to book tickets for the event on 10 September at Tramway visit this link.
The one-off event is produced by Glasgow Life, supported by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Creative Scotland, as part of the Royal National Mòd fringe programme. Details of all the Glasgow Life events in the festival’s fringe can be found here.
The Royal National Mòd, which takes place in Glasgow from 9 to 17 October, was last held in the city in 2019. Founded in 1891, the renowned annual cultural festival is organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach.
Glasgow Life Senior Arts Producer, Rona MacDonald said: “Glasgow is home to the biggest concentration of Gaelic speakers outside the Western Isles and has five Gaelic schools, so Gaelic is an important part of the city’s cultural identity. Our aim is to give everyone in Glasgow, whether they speak the language or not, the opportunity to engage with and experience Gaelic’s rich cultural traditions and creative expression.
“Glasgow Life’s Gaelic Arts Plan 2025-2029 sets out our commitment to encouraging interest and participation in Gaelic language and culture, and action plan for the ongoing development of Gaelic arts, music and culture at our events and in our programmes and venues. Oidhche nam Bàrd – Poetry in Art and Sound is a great example of how we put that into practice. It is an accessible, inclusive event that invites audiences – whether they are Gaelic speakers or have no knowledge of the language – to gather together and enjoy great entertainment in the form of spoken word, stories and songs in Gaelic. And of course, this special evening will provide a real taste of what’s ahead during theRoyal National Mòd and the festival’s vibrant fringe programme showcasing Gaelic arts, music, and culture.”
Ealasaid MacDonald, Ceannard (CEO) of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, said: “Oidhche nam Bàrd promises to be a wonderful celebration of Gaelic poetry, song, and culture and will be an excellent addition to the Royal National Mòd fringe programme. Increasing the use and learning of Gaelic in the Creative Industries is a key aim in the National Gaelic Language Plan 2023-28 and creating opportunities for people across the country to connect with our shared cultural heritage is vitally important for Gaelic development in Scotland. Bòrd na Gàidhlig is very happy to be supporting Glasgow Life in the delivery of this special event.”
Karen Dick, Head of Place, Partnerships & Communities at Creative Scotland, said: “Oidhche nam Bàrd – Poetry in Art and Sound beautifully illustrates how Scotland’s support for arts and culture and individual creatives intersect with the living language of Gaelic and our storytelling heritage. Art and language weave together to unlock new possibilities, perspectives and performance in each other, and Glasgow is steeped in both. We hope audiences are inspired to seek out more Gaelic arts, learn more of the language, get creative or simply experience the talent on offer.”
The Royal National Mòd 2026is supported by Glasgow Life, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, The Scottish Government, EventScotland, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA, Creative Scotland, and Qualifications Scotland.
For further information on the Royal National Mòd and festival fringe programme, visit https://modghlaschu2026.org/.