Surge In Attendance at Gaelic Cultural Events in Scotland - Credit Goes to Increase in Gaelic Medium Education

The website "The Press and Journal" under the headline "Bumper Line-Up For Provincial Mod" reports that the Inverness provincial Mod (a celebration of Scots Gaelic culture and language) has attracted a record number of participants. The event in Inverness is one of 21 Provincial Mods held throughout Scotland leading up to the National Mod held this year, also in Inverness, the second week of October, 2014.

The National Mod which is sponsored by the Highland Association, will run from the 10th through the 17th of October.  At its founding in 1891 the Royal National Mod was modelled after the Welsh Eisteddfod. The Festival includes musical performances, dramatic presentations, dance, readings in Gaelic literature and various art exhibitions.

According to the Inverness event spokesman, Norman MacKay, the record turnout reflects the surge in Gealic medium education and credits the efforts of the Highland Association (An Comunn Gàidhealach): "The number of entries have been going up considerably for the last six or seven years, which I put down to...the Highland Council's Gaelic in schools policy. The money it has put into Gaelic is showing through now and it is quite clear that whether schools are in Skye, Inverness or Tain, the policy it has adopted is really working well, which is showing in these figures." 

The official web page of the Royal National Mod gives us the following:

The Royal National Mòd is organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach (The Highland Association) which was founded in Oban in 1891 and has HM The Queen as its Patron. Famous for celebrating our Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage, Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival provides opportunities for people of all ages to perform across a range of competitive disciplines including Gaelic music and song, highland dancing, instrumental, drama, sport and literature."

The aims of the Association are to support and develop all aspects of the Gaelic language, culture, history and heritage at local, national and international levels by:

• Promoting the use of the language in everyday community life.
• Promoting the study and development of Gaelic language, literature, music, drama and all other related art forms.
• Actively seeking official recognition and use of Gaelic as a living language and national asset by local, national and European Governments and other agencies, by co-operating with all other organisations engaged in the provision of Gaelic language and culture
• An Comunn Gàidhealach is non-political and non-sectarian, and membership is open to anyone sharing the above objectives

http://www.ancomunn.co.uk/

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/261623/bumper-line-provincial-mod/