Scotland’s Gaelic festival, celebrating Gaelic language, music and culture will return to Perth tonight for the first time in 18 years, after last taking place in the Fair City in 2004.
The festival will run till the 22nd of October and promotes the relevance and value of Gaelic in Modern Scotland through a varied programme of competitions, concert and fringe events.
Perth & Kinross Council leader Councillor Grant Laing said: “There is real excitement growing about the return of the Mòd to Perth and the city is gearing up to welcome thousands of visitors.
“The competition will be fantastic and the packed Fringe events have something to offer everyone, from wonderful live music, to sport and events for children.”
Last week the council distributed Mòd toolkits to business across the city to help them welcome the expected 7,500 visitors, to the eight-day event. This year will be the 10th time the event has been held in Perth over its 130-year history and the 11th time it’s been held in Perth and Kinross with Blairgowrie playing host in 1996.
Tonight at 6:30pm, Highland Perthshire Pipe band The Vale of Atholl Pipe Band along with the Perth and District Pipe Band will lead the torchlight procession along the High Street to the Concert Hall.
Over the course of the festival over 200 competitions will take place ranging from traditional instruments, to dancing, storytelling and sport, with Shinty taking place in Perth for the first time in 11 years as Tayforth Camanachd and Aberdour Shinty Club compete on the North Inch for the Mòd Shinty Cup.
Among the junior events this year will be a “Battle of the Bands style contest and a TikTok competition in the media category.
Whilst the competitions are a huge part of the event, there is plenty to see and do at the Mòd Fringe, which is a host of live music, talks, literature and art, alongside a programme designed for children. The programme of children and family events can be found at https://www.perthcity.co.uk/section/gaelic-perthshire/md-fringe-events-for-children-and-families
For more information on this year’s event in Perth visit https://www.perthcity.co.uk/section/gaelic-perthshire/md-pheairt-2022