boost for Gaelic as Mod at Falkirk told future looks bright for funding
Highland culture spreads to central belt
Published:
The future is looking bright for the Gaelic language, with the Highland culture spreading and growing in popularity in the Lowlands.
Speaking at the Royal National Mod in Falkirk yesterday, John MacLeod, president of An Comunn Gaidhealach, said, despite the economic downturn, the future looked bright in terms of funding for the Mod.
He said: “We were in difficulties in the last few years but things are looking a lot more encouraging than they were.”
Mr MacLeod announced that competitor numbers have increased by 25% in the last eight years.
“In a way it gives us some problems,” he added. “We have to try to get all the competitors through their competitions within a day. But we have ensured that everyone who wants to take part can take part.”
He also urged competitors and spectators to support a campaign to get new Gaelic channel BBC Alba on Freeview by signing the petition being circulated at the Mod.
“We have thousands of people present during the week,” he said. “We would hope that they would be able to show their support for the campaign, so that more people can see this, as there are some excellent programmes going out on this channel.”
This year’s host town has taken the language to its heart, added Mr MacLeod. “The provost, Pat Reid, has promised that after the Mod leaves Falkirk at the end of the week they will not forget support for Gaelic. It will be continued and it looks like the Mod will leave its mark on the place. Although this is not a traditional place to hold a Mod and it has never been here before, competitor numbers are equal to those that have been held elsewhere in Scotland among young competitors.”
Councillor Angus MacDonald, convener of the local Mod committee, said: “We fully intend the Mod to be a springboard to promote Gaelic in the Falkirk area to the extent we are looking at taking on a Gaelic development officer.”
