{"id":25724,"date":"2025-10-20T11:21:47","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T10:21:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/?p=25724"},"modified":"2025-10-20T11:21:49","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T10:21:49","slug":"curtain-comes-down-on-royal-national-mod-in-lochaber-as-glasgow-gets-set-to-host-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/curtain-comes-down-on-royal-national-mod-in-lochaber-as-glasgow-gets-set-to-host-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Curtain comes down on Royal National M\u00f2d in Lochaber as Glasgow gets set to host in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Torchlight<\/a>
The Royal National M\u00f2d kicked with an atmospheric torchlight procession in Lochaber; accompanied by Lochaber; and Mallaig and Ardnamurchan Pipe Bands.; with hundreds winding their way through the streets carrying flaming torches in a spectacle that set the tone for the week ahead. Locals and international visitors alike joined forces to illuminate the streets of Fort William<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The curtain has come down on the 133-year-old Royal National M\u00f2d <\/strong>today in Lochaber, marking the end of nine days of world-class Gaelic cultural celebration and competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thousands of people, including 1,900 competitors and hundreds of performers and exhibitors, transformed Fort William into a thriving hotspot of Gaelic language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With estimated attendances of around 10,000 \u2013 an increase of 10% on the 2024 edition \u2013 Lochaber was home to a non-stop festival atmosphere. From 10 – 18 October, Scotland\u2019s premier celebration of Gaelic language, culture, sport and art took over 11 venues in the Highlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The festival, which spanned 300 individual events, is anticipated to have brought in at least \u00a33.6 million to the Highland economy as local business boomed across the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competition entries were also up this year, thanks in part to the incredibly successful M\u00f2d Academy programme, which delivered 500 music and song tuition sessions across the region in the lead up to the event. As a result, 200 local children took part, creating a lasting musical legacy in the Lochaber area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Musical talents from Aberdeen to Australia and Dunoon to Dundee make the pilgrimage to the world\u2019s largest Scottish Gaelic cultural showcase which proudly celebrates the unique language, culture, and spirit of the Gaels and champions its relevance and value in modern Scotland. Hundreds of cups, trophies, plates, shields, quaichs and medals were dished out to deserving winners across the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To round off a sensational display of cultural pride, hundreds of choir members marched from the Nevis Centre, accompanied by Lochaber, Lochaber Schools, and Mallaig and Ardnamurchan Pipe Bands, before coming together in celebratory song at Cameron Square for the historic Massed Choirs <\/strong>event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The symbolic M\u00f2d flag was then handed over to 2026 hosts, Glasgow \u2013 an urban heartland of the indigenous language in Scotland today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last of the event\u2019s hard-fought competitions were staged yesterday, with the flagship Area Choir Competitions <\/strong>taking centre stage. The Lovat and Tullibardine Shield <\/strong>was won by the legendary Glasgow Gaelic Music Association (the GGs)<\/strong>, conducted by Iseabail MacTaggart<\/strong>, in what was her first time conducting the GGs in the historic competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a sensational win on home turf in the beloved Margrat Duncan Memorial Trophy, <\/strong>whichwas lifted by the talented Lochaber Gaelic Choir<\/strong>, conducted by Mary Ann Kennedy,<\/strong> who brought the house down at their home M\u00f2d with two show-stopping songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iseabail MacTaggart, Conductor of Glasgow Gaelic Music Association (the GGs), said: <\/strong>\u201cI\u2019m feeling incredibly proud and just delighted with how the choir sang, including our amazing soloists. We had a magical arrangement that Rachel Walker did as our own choice and I feel like we really delivered. On stage, it felt like we were absolutely as one as a choir and that’s not easy on a stage like this, but we absolutely connected. I think it’s a real privilege and honour to stand in front of these incredible singers – I don’t take it for granted and I\u2019m just incredibly proud of how they sang.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary Ann Kennedy, Conductor of Lochaber Gaelic Choir, said: <\/strong>\u201cWe’ve had such a good vibe going over the last couple of weeks \u2013 we knew that the choir were in a really good place, but we also know that we’re in a community where our friends and the other choirs are great as well. We came off the stage feeling good and that translated into marks and silverware \u2013 even better! To win at home means so much – I’ve now lived in Ardgower in Lochaber for longer than I’ve lived anywhere in my life, so to have this as something that I can call a home win is very special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe knew we just had to do what we had worked to do and trust that it would find its way out into the hall, so we hope it did! I’ve been surrounded by Gaelic choirs since I was tiny, so to be a little part of this, it feels like some kind of an affirmation and I’m proud of what we did. I’m also so proud of Carolyn \u2013 my co-leader and Gaelic reader, who was also the local convener, so hats off to her!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prestigious M\u00f2d and Highland Society of London\u2019s Highland Art Prize was also announced yesterday afternoon at McCallum Art House. Katherine Sutherland<\/strong>, hailing from the East Sutherland Arts Society<\/strong>claimed the top honour with her involved and layered piece, Sentinel at the NorthWest<\/em> \/ Fear-faire an iar-Thuath<\/em>. The winning artwork was chosen from a carefully curated shortlist of 70 exceptional pieces, handpicked by artists Beth Robertson Fiddes<\/strong> and Donnie Munro.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uist trad band Beinn Lee<\/strong> also had crowds up and dancing for An Dannsa M\u00f2r<\/strong>, at the Nevis Centre, last night. The lively closing c\u00e8ilidh dance had reels and Lochaber hospitality aplenty as the week headed to a close in high spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maggie Cunningham, Chair of An Comunn G\u00e0idhealach,<\/strong> said: \u201c<\/strong>Lochaber has been an outstanding host for the Royal National M\u00f2d 2025, showcasing its deep connection to Gaelic language, music and culture. The energy and enthusiasm we\u2019ve seen over the past nine days have been truly inspiring, and it\u2019s clear that the spirit of the Gaels is alive and thriving here in the Highlands, and we hope the event leaves a strong Gaelic and musical legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are immensely grateful to everyone who made this year\u2019s event such a resounding success \u2013 from our dedicated partners, sponsors, and local organisers to the incredible volunteers, performers, competitors, and visitors who brought this celebration to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs we look ahead to Glasgow in 2026, we carry with us the memories of a fantastic event in Lochaber and the knowledge that the M\u00f2d continues to bring cultural pride and economic benefits to every community it touches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:<\/strong> \u201cThis year\u2019s M\u00f2d has showcased the vibrancy and relevance of Gaelic to modern Scotland while also delivering significant benefits to the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt has helped to shine a spotlight on some of the hard-working competitors, organisers and volunteers who keep the Gaelic language thriving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Scottish Government is providing an additional \u00a35.7 million in 2025-26 for initiatives, including events like the Royal National M\u00f2d, to support Gaelic\u2019s continued growth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Councillor Bremner of Highland Council said:<\/strong> \u201cIt has been a truly memorable Royal National M\u00f2d, showcasing and celebrating the very best of the Gaelic, culture and hospitality for which Lochaber is so renowned. Congratulations should go to all who have contributed to such a successful event and to the communities of Lochaber for being fantastic hosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe M\u00f2d has demonstrated why Gaelic and culture are such prized assets for our area. They carry enormous social and economic benefits, and these past nine days have left us with so much to be encouraged about for the future of our language.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rob Dickson, Director of Industry and Events at VisitScotland, said:<\/strong> \u201cThe Royal National M\u00f2d is a wonderful showcase of Scotland\u2019s rich Gaelic culture and heritage, and Lochaber provided the perfect stage for this year\u2019s event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOver the course of nine days across various venues, Gaelic language, culture, sport, and art were on display as audiences from around the world descended on the Highlands to enjoy an important part of our country\u2019s cultural identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs part of our diverse portfolio of events and festivals, the Royal National M\u00f2d plays a key role in helping to drive Scotland\u2019s visitor economy and reinforces our reputation as a world-leading tourism and events destination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ealasaid MacDonald, Ceannard (CEO), B\u00f2rd na G\u00e0idhlig, said: <\/strong>\u201cAbair M\u00f2d! Congratulations to An Comunn G\u00e0idhealach and the local organising committee for a wonderful week where we have enjoyed Gaelic culture and community across a range of competitions and events. At its heart, showcasing Gaelic as a significant social, cultural and economic driver. Lochaber should be very proud of what they have achieved, and we wish Glasgow all the best as we look ahead to coming together next year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iain Robertson, Chair of the Lochaber M\u00f2d 2025 Local Organising Committee, said:<\/strong> \u201cFor any host region, putting on a festival worthy of Royal National M\u00f2d status is a formidable prospect, involving painstaking planning. The real magic, however, comes from those attending. So, on behalf of everyone who worked so hard behind the scenes to deliver this year\u2019s M\u00f2d, our thanks go to each and every entrant, judge, artist, musician, speaker and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

spectator for their part in making the 2025 M\u00f2d the success that it was.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chair of Glasgow Life, and City Convenor for Culture, Sport and International Relations, Bailie Annette Christie, said: <\/strong>\u201cGlasgow can’t wait to welcome back the Royal National M\u00f2d in October 2026. We are delighted to be hosting this renowned cultural celebration during what will be a very special year of events in the city, as we look ahead to the Commonwealth Games and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHome to the largest concentration of Gaelic speakers outwith the Western Isles, Glasgow has strong, historic links with Gaelic. Interest and engagement have grown considerably in recent years; the last census, in 2022, revealed an 84% increase in Glasgow residents with Gaelic skills. We want to build on that \u2013 encouraging and enabling further participation in, and appreciation of, Gaelic creative expression \u2013 and our Gaelic Arts Plan 2025-2029, which we launched earlier this year, sets out our commitment to this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe recognise how valuable it is to ensure Gaelic and non-Gaelic speakers alike are offered opportunities to enjoy and experience events and activities that support and strengthen Gaelic language, arts, music and culture \u2013 boosting the social impact and economic contribution they make. So staging The Royal National M\u00f2d, the leading Gaelic cultural celebration, is hugely important to the city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s event was supported by EventScotland<\/strong>, part of VisitScotland, B\u00f2rd na G\u00e0idhlig<\/strong>, Highland Council<\/strong>, The Scottish Government<\/strong>, Caledonian MacBrayne<\/strong>, BBC ALBA<\/strong>, Creative Scotland<\/strong> and SQA<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Royal National M\u00f2d <\/strong>returns to Glasgow in 2026, from 9 – 17 October<\/strong>. For full results from across the week visit www.ancomunn.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The curtain has come down on the 133-year-old Royal National M\u00f2d today in Lochaber, marking the end of nine days of world-class Gaelic cultural celebration and competition.  Thousands of people, including 1,900 competitors and hundreds of performers and exhibitors, transformed Fort William into a thriving hotspot of Gaelic language.  With estimated attendances of around 10,000 \u2013 an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9,37],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-25724","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-news","7":"category-newsletter","8":"entry","9":"has-post-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"simon","author_link":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/author\/simon\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcv15g-6GU","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25724"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25724\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25726,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25724\/revisions\/25726"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/handsupfortrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}