Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail (The Royal National Mod) is Scotland's premier Gaelic festival of the  Gaelic language, arts and culture and is held annually in October at a  different location in Scotland. The Mod is a competition-based festival which  celebrates the Gaelic language and culture through music, dance, drama, arts  and literature.

First held in Oban in 1892, the Mod has now grown to  become the second biggest festival in Scotland attracting visitors and  competitors from throughout the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada and the USA. The  Mod provides a major economic and cultural boost to the host area and also attracts considerable national and international publicity, raising the profile  of the host location.

Whilst the Mod is essentially a competitive event  it also represents an opportunity for Gaels and non-Gaels to gather and renew  old friendships as well as forging new ones. It has evolved organically,  responding to contemporary changes in Gaelic education and the wider field of  the Gaelic arts, acting as an incentive for talented individuals and groups to  develop and refine their talents in the public arena. In its own way, the Mod  has been a significant cohesive element in keeping the Gaelic community  together over the past century overcoming many challenges.

Since 1912,  there has been a royal family association with the Mod whose parent body, An Còmunn Gàidhealach, has HM The Queen as its Patron while members  of the Royal Family regularly attend the event.

Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail (The Royal National Mod)  was formed in 1999 with the remit of assuming responsibility for all aspects of  the event including administration, fundraising and sponsorship. The support of national and international  organisations such as The Royal Bank of Scotland and Caledonian MacBrayne has  helped to consolidate the status of the Mod as Scotland's main Gaelic festival.

This status was underlined further at Mod 2003, the 100th Mod  held in Oban where guests throughout the week included the Rt. Hon Jack  MacConnell MSP, First Minister; Mr Peter Peacock MSP, Education Minister;  Mr Frank McAveety MSP, Minister for Tourism, Culture & Sport with the  Scottish Executive; Mrs Anne Maguire, Parliamentary Under Secretary of  State at the Scotland Office and HRH The Duchess of Gloucester representing  HM The Queen.

Mod 2003 was a huge success and we now look forward to Mod 2004 as we return to Perth after an absence of 24 years.  Mod 2004 will take  place from 8th - 16th October.

http://www.the-mod.co.uk/