Royal National Mod gets under way

This year's Mod is being held in Falkirk from 10-18 October

This year's Royal National Mod is due to begin in Falkirk.

The week-long Gaelic festival is expected to attract about 10,000 visitors, including 2,000 competitors from across the globe.

First Minister Alex Salmond will attend the opening ceremony in Falkirk Town Hall.

He was expected to use the ceremony to announce £2.7m of Scottish Government funding for Gaelic education over the next two years.

The Mod has been held annually in towns all over Scotland since 1892 to celebrate Gaelic language, arts and culture.

More than 200 competitions are due to be held all over the town, with entrants competing in music and sporting events throughout the week.

There will also be dozens of shows from Gaelic performers in pubs and clubs.

'Lasting legacy'

Mr Salmond was due to pledge most of the £2.7m funding to help local authorities build or renovate Gaelic schools, but there will also be more funding for recruiting Gaelic teachers, and a £70,000 scheme to create employment opportunities for young speakers of the language.

Meanwhile, North Uist singer and musician Julie Fowlis was named as the first recipient of the Scottish Government's new Gaelic Ambassador of the Year award.

The 29-year-old was given the accolade for her efforts to increase the status and profile of the language.

Culture Minister Linda Fabiani, who made the presentation at the Falkirk Wheel, paid tribute to the singer.

She said: "She continues to take her own brand of wonderful Gaelic singing and songwriting to new audiences in Scotland, and all over the world."

John Macleod, president of An Comunn Gaidhealach, which organises the Mod, added: "As well as being such a talented singer and musician, her warm personality and public profile make her a great ambassador for her native language and such a popular role model for our young singers and musicians."

Ms Fowlis sings only in Gaelic and has toured the world bringing ancient songs from the Hebridean islands to new audiences.

She also plays Highland bagpipes, small pipes, whistles, oboe, cor anglais and the button-key accordion.

Falkirk councillor Angus MacDonald urged locals to attend the festival, among the largest celebrating Gaelic culture anywhere in the world.

He said: "The Mod in Falkirk is shaping up to be a fantastic experience, with many thousands of visitors heading for both the competitions and the fringe events organised throughout the week.

"Visitors will see the largest celebration of Gaelic culture and music in the world and there will be a tremendous atmosphere in the town.

"Once the event is over, we are looking forward to seeing a resurgence locally and nationally in Gaelic culture and we are confident there will be a lasting legacy from the Mod in 2008 across our area."

Performers at this year's Mod will include Skerryvore, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Skipinnish.

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