THE opening weekend of this year’s Royal National Mod was an energetic showcase of the riches Gaelic culture has to offer, organisers have said.
Saturday morning’s shinty throw up marked the start of the weekend’s cultural activities, with under-14s coaching and competition sessions, all in Gaelic.
It was rounded off with the women’s and men’s Mod Cups, won for the ladies and the gents by Inverness City.
At the other side of the Highland capital, Inverness Royal Academy played host to the Mod’s Football Cup.
READ MORE: National Mod kicks off as new Gaelic ambassador is announced
A tightly contested match between Glasgow Island and Loch Ness FC saw Glasgow Island crowned champions for 2021.
Sport aside, there was another chance to get moving with a pop-up ceilidh at the Eastgate Centre, with families up dancing on Saturday afternoon.
Elsewhere, musical trio Marloch performed at The Botanic House in a vibrant meeting of the modern and traditional.
And there was plenty of young talent at the Mod too. Sharing the stage at the Our Language, Our Music concert on Saturday night with traditional music greats Duncan Chisholm, Mairearad Green, James Duncan MacKenzie and Ar Canan‘s Ar Ceol House Band, was some of the Highland’s most incredible up-and-coming young musical talent.
Sunday afternoon sees the annual Mod Church Service and will be broadcast live on Radio nan Ghaidheal from the Old High Church, Inverness at 3pm.
With another six days of music and celebration still to go, including the Gaelic and Traditional Gold medal finals as well as a Massed Choirs Event, the Mod has well and truly returned.
James Graham, chief executive officer of An Comunn Gaidhealach, said: “Our opening weekend has already been a great success and we appreciate everyone who has come out to support the Mod since its launch on Friday.
“Today is a moment to pause and reflect as we join the congregation at Old High Church for our annual Mod Church Service ahead of another week of spectacular performance and competition - both in-person and online.”
Chair of The Highland Council’s Gaelic Committee, councillor Calum Munro, said: “Following a resounding day of sport and music yesterday, today’s Mod Service in the Old High Church will allow those gathered to reflect on the efforts and achievements involved in hosting the Mod in Inverness during very difficult times.
“The Highland Council thanks all the organisers and participants for their support shown for the Royal National Mod this year.”
Shona MacLennan, Ceannard, Bord na Gaidhlig, said: “The first weekend has certainly provided a welcome celebration for all those taking part in events in person or online.
READ MORE: Royal National Mod 2021 gets underway at Eden Court, Inverness
“The Mod Church service will bring comfort and hope to all those listening and strengthen the sense of community amongst listeners.
“The coming week will also no doubt provide many opportunities to engage in Gaelic events, and celebrations of all that is best in Gaelic culture. “We look forward to a fantastic week and wish all participants the very best.”
The Royal National Mod is supported by EventScotland, Bord na Gaidhlig, The Highland Council, Events Scotland, The Scottish Government, HIE, Caledonian MacBrayne and SQA.
A number of Covid safety measures are in place for this year’s Mod in line with government guidelines to keep audiences and performers safe, including extensive cleaning and ongoing Covid safety checks, enhanced hygiene measures, use of face masks and track and trace check-ins.
The Royal National Mod will run until October 16. The view full programme and tickets can be found at https://www.ancomunn.co.uk/
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B’ e cuirm-chiùil spreagail làn de chultar saidhbhir na Gàidhlig a dh’fhosgail a’ chiad deireadh-sheachdain den Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail.
Chomharraich gèam iomain madainn Disathairne toiseach tòiseachaidh ghnìomhachdan cultarach na deireadh-sheachdaine, le seiseanan coidsidh is farpaisean do chlann fo 14 bliadhna a dh’aois, uile ann an Gàidhlig.
Chrìochnaich an t-sreath iomain le Cupa Mòid nam ban agus nam fear, air am buannachadh do na mnathan le Inbhir Nis agus le Inbhir Nis do na fir.
Aig taobh eile prìomh bhaile na Gàidhealtachd, thug Acadamaidh Rìoghail Inbhir Nis aoigheachd do Chupa Ball-coise a’ Mhòid. Bha gèam teann eadar Glasgow Island agus Loch Nis FC a chunnaic Glasgow Island air an crùnadh mar dhiùlnaich 2021.
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Mura robh ùidh agad san spòrs, bha gu leòr eile ann dhut! Bha cothrom eile air a dhol a ghluasad aig cèilidh pop-up aig Ionad Eastgate, aig an robh teaghlaichean air an casan a’ dannsa le aighear fad feasgar Disathairne.
Ann an àite eile, bha an triùir luchd-ciùil Marloch air àrd-ùrlar aig Taigh Botanic ann an coinneachadh beòthail de cheòl nuadh-aimsireil agus traidiseanta.
Tha tàlant òg a’ dèanamh suas cnàimh-droma cultar na Gàidhlig airson an ama ri teachd agus bha seo follaiseach agus am Mòd dìreach a’ tòiseachadh. Air an aon àrd-ùrlar aig cuirm-chiùil Ar Cànan, ’s Ar Ceòl feasgar Disathairne còmhla ris na gaisgich chiùil traidiseanta Donnchadh Siosalach, Mairearad Green, Seumas Donnchadh MacCoinnich agus Còmhlan Taighe iongantach Ar Cànan ’s Ar Ceòl, bha cuid den tàlant ciùil òg as fheàrr a tha a’ tighinn am bàrr air a’ Ghàidhealtachd.
Agus dìreach airson a bhith cinnteach gun robh an aon chothrom aig gach neach, chaidh sruthadh beò le tiogaidean a chur air bhonn bhon àite san robh e uile a’ gabhail àite, Taigh-cluiche na h-Ìmpireachd ann an Cùirt Eden.
Feasgar an-diugh bidh Seirbheis Eaglais a’ Mhòid a’ gabhail àite, a’ toirt cothrom fois is meòrachaidh do gach neach. Bidh an t-seirbheis molaidh air a craobh-sgaoileadh beò air Radio nan Gàidheal bhon t-Seann Àrd-Eaglais ann an Inbhir Nis aig 3f.
Le sia làithean eile de cheòl is de shubhachas ri dhol, a’ gabhail a-steach farpaisean crìochnachaidh Buinn Òir a’ Chomuinn ’s an t-Seann Nòis a thuilleadh air Co-chruinneachadh nan Còisirean a tha fìor speisealta, tha am Mòd air tilleadh ann an da-rìribh. Thuirt Seumas Greumach, Àrd-Oifigear a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich:
“Tha a’ chiad dheireadh-sheachdain air a bhith anabarrach soirbheachail mar-thà agus tha sinn taingeil do gach neach a thàinig a-mach a thoirt taic don Mhòd on a chaidh a chur air bhog Dihaoine a chaidh. Tha an-diugh na latha a bu chòir dhuinn stad agus meòrachadh agus sinn a’ tighinn còmhla ri coitheanal na Seann Àrd-Eaglais airson Seirbheis Bhliadhnail a’ Mhòid aig toiseach seachdain eile de ghnìomhaidhean is farpaisean iongantach – an dà chuid gu pearsanta agus air-loidhne.”
Thuirt Calum Rothach, Cathraiche Comataidh Ghàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd: “A’ leantainn latha iongantach de spòrs agus ceòl an-dè, bheir Seirbheis a’ Mhòid an-diugh anns an t-Seann Àrd-Eaglais cothrom dhaibhsan a tha cruinnichte meòrachadh air oidhirpean is coileanaidhean a tha an lùib a bhith a’ toirt aoigheachd don Mhòd ann an Inbhir Nis aig amannan a tha glè dhuilich.
Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd a’ toirt taing don luchd-eagrachaidh is luchd-com-pàirt airson na taic a nochd iad don Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail am-bliadhna.”
Thuirt Shona NicIllinnein, Ceannard, Bòrd na Gàidhlig: “Tha a’ chiad dheireadh-sheachdain air fàilte bhlàth a chur air na h-uile a tha a’ gabhail pàirt ann an tachartasan gu pearsanta no air-loidhne. Bheir Seirbheis Eaglais a’ Mhòid cofhurtachd agus dòchas dhaibhsan uile a tha ag èisteachd agus neartachadh ann am faireachdainn de choimhearsnachd am measg luchd-èisteachd.
READ MORE: Use Gaelic in 'every area of daily life', Scots urged ahead of 2021's Mod
"Chan eil teagamh nach toir an t-seachdain a tha romhainn mòran chothroman seachad air a dhol an lùib thachartasan Gàidhlig agus chomharraidhean air na nithean as fheàrr ann an cultar na Gàidhlig.
"Tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ri seachdain mhìorbhaileach agus a’ guidhe gach soirbheachas do na com-pàirtichean.” Tha am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail a’ faotainn taic bho EventScotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, Events Scotland, Riaghaltas na h-Alba, HIE, Caledonian MacBrayne agus SQA.
Bidh àireamh de cheumannan sàbhailteachd COVID air an cur an gnìomh aig Mòd na bliadhna seo, ann an co-rèir ri stiùiridhean an riaghaltais gus luchd-èisteachd agus luchd-gnìomhaidh a chumail sàbhailte, a’ gabhail a-steach glanadh mionaideach, sgrùdaidhean sàbhailteachd leantainneach COVID, slàinteachas cùramach, cleachdadh còmhdach aodainn agus dearbhaidhean trac is lorg.
Bidh am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail a’ ruith gu 16 Dàmhair 2021. Thoiribh sùil air a’ phrògram slàn agus ceannaichibh tiogaidean a-nis aig https://www.ancomunn.co.uk/
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