Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd fìor thoilichte a bhith a’ cur fàilte air Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail 2025 gu Loch Abar, a’ gabhail cothrom aig an fhosgladh oifigeil an dealas mhaireannach aice dhan chànan a chur an cèill a-rithist.
A’ bruidhinn aig fosgladh oifigeil Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail 2025 anns a’ Ghearasdan Dihaoine, thuirt Àrd-Oifigear Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, Derek MacIlleDhuinn:
“Tha mi air leth moiteil a bhith a’ cur taic ri leasachadh na Gàidhlig san dreuchd agam.
“Tha mi fortanach gu bheil mi ag obair còmhla ri sàr sgioba Gàidhlig a tha cho dealasach, agus a tha a’ cuideachadh gus àrdachadh a thoirt gach bliadhna air an àireimh de dhaoine sa Ghàidhealtachd aig a bheil Gàidhlig.
“Am-bliadhna, tha sinn a’ comharrachadh dà fhichead bliadhna bhon a thòisich Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig sa Ghàidhealtachd, agus tha e fhathast a’ dol bho neart gu neart.
“Tha mi cuideachd moiteil às na tha sinn a’ dèanamh airson obraichean Gàidhlig a chruthachadh agus fàs a thoirt air eaconamaidh na Gàidhlig.
“Tha e cudromach gum faigh a’ Ghàidhlig taic agus gum bi i beò agus beothail anns na coimhearsnachdan againn.”
Tha Maighstir MacIlleDhuinn air a bhith ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig airson còrr is dà bhliadhna agus thuirt e:
“Tha e cudromach dhomh gum bi daoine a’ bruidhinn rium anns a’ Ghàidhlig agus nì mi mo dhìcheall bruidhinn air ais ribh.
“Tha mi an dòchas gum bi am Mòd seo soirbheachail cuideachd, agus e a’ comharrachadh cànan, cultar, ealain agus dualchas na Gàidhlig.
“Gura math a thèid leis gach farpaiseach, agus mo thaing dhan a h-uile duine a tha ag obair cruaidh airson gach rud a chur air dòigh.
“Tha mi an dòchas gun còrd an t-seachdain ribh uile.”
Thuirt Ceannard Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, an Comhairliche Raymond Bremner, a tha na sheinneadair Gàidhlig cliùiteach agus a choisinn am Bonn Òir aig Mòd Loch Abar ann an 1999:
“’S e am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail prìomh chruinneachadh coimhearsnachd na Gàidhlig agus tha e sgoinneil a bhith a’ faicinn an tachartais a’ tilleadh chun na Gàidhealtachd uair eile.
“Tha An Comunn Gàidhealach, luchd-obrach Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, na sponsairean, comataidh ionadail a’ Mhòid, agus gach saor-thoileach, airidh air moladh mòr airson na tha iad a’ dèanamh gus am Mòd a chur air dòigh.
“Tha sàr phrògram thachartasan ann agus bidh rudeigin ann a chòrdas ris a h-uile duine.
“Tha mi cinnteach gum bi Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail na bliadhna sa soirbheachail dha-rìribh do Loch Abar, agus do na farpaisich is dhan luchd-tadhail air fad.
“Tha dualchas Gàidhlig beairteach is moiteil aig Loch Abar. Chì sinn agus cluinnidh sinn sin anns na h-òrain, na fuinn is na sgeulachdan a bhios air an seinn is air an aithris aig na diofar thachartasan.
“Bidh luchd-còmhnaidh na sgìre a’ dèanamh subhachas ris a’ chultar Ghàidhlig agus fàgaidh seo dìleab mhath is mhaireannach dhan chànan, dhan Ghàidhealtachd agus do dh’Alba.”
Thuirt Comhairliche Biz Chaimbeul (Comataidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd):
“Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd moiteil a bhith ag aithneachadh gu bheil àite fìor chudromach aig a’ Mhòd ann a bhith a’ brosnachadh is a’ neartachadh na Gàidhlig.
“Tha tachartasan mar seo, agus an cànan is an cultar a tha aig an cridhe, cho fìor chudromach a thaobh math sòisealta, cultarach is eaconamach sgìre na Gàidhealtachd.
“Tha soirbheachas a’ Mhòid Nàiseanta Rìoghail a’ sealltainn cho fìor tharraingeach ’s a tha cultar dùthchasach na Gàidhlig do dhaoine bho air feadh an t-saoghail.”
Sheall an cunntas-sluaigh mu dheireadh ann an 2022 gun robh àrdachadh san àireimh de dhaoine sa Ghàidhealtachd aig an robh sgilean Gàidhlig.
Bha na h-àrdachaidhean a bu mhotha ann am buidhnean aoise 3–15 agus 25–34.
Tha e na phrìomh àrd-amas aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd a bhith a’ leudachadh chothroman cànain sa Ghàidhlig do dhaoine òga taobh a-staigh is taobh a-muigh suidheachadh na sgoile, agus tha seo na phàirt riatanach de Phlana Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd.
Highland Council Welcomes The Royal National Mòd and hails commitment to Gaelic
Highland Council is delighted to welcome the 2025 Royal National Mòd to Lochaber, taking the opportunity at the opening of the country’s biggest Gaelic celebration to re-assert its long-standing commitment to the language.
Speaking at the official opening of the 2025 Royal National Mòd in Fort William on Friday, Highland Council chief executive Derek Brown said:
“I am proud to support the development of the Gaelic language in my role.
“I am very lucky to work with such a committed Gaelic team, who are devoted to the growth of the Gaelic language, helping each year to increase the number of people speaking Gaelic in the Highlands.
“This year, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Gaelic Medium Education in the Highlands, and it continues to go from strength to strength.
“I am also proud of the work we are doing to create Gaelic jobs and grow the Gaelic economy.
“It is vital that Gaelic is supported so that it can thrive in our communities.”
Mr Brown has been learning Gaelic for over two years and added:
“It is important to me that people take the chance to speak to me in Gaelic and I will try my best to make the most of such opportunities.
“I hope this Mod is a great success, a real celebration of Gaelic language, culture, arts and heritage.
“Best wishes to all the participants and thanks to all those who are working to organise the event.
“I hope you all enjoy the week.”
Highland Council Leader Raymond Bremner, himself a well-known Gaelic singer who won the Gold Medal at the 1999 Mòd in Lochaber said:
“The Royal National Mòd is the flagship gathering of the Gaelic community, and it’s great see the event return to the Highlands once again.
“Organisers An Comunn Gàidhealach, Highland Council staff, the sponsors, the local Mòd committee and all of its army of volunteers deserve enormous credit for all their efforts in the lead up to this year’s Mòd.
“The excellent programme of events will have something for everyone.
“I have no doubt this year’s Royal National Mòd will be a fantastic success for Lochaber, and for all the competitors and visitors attending events this week.
“Lochaber has a rich and proud Gaelic tradition, which we will see and hear in the songs, tunes and stories resounding at all the various events.
“The area’s residents will embrace and enjoy this celebration of Gaelic culture which will leave a lasting and positive legacy for the language, for the Highlands and for Scotland.”
Cllr Biz Campbell, from Highland Council’s Gaelic committee, added:
“Highland Council is proud to recognise the very important role the Mòd plays in promoting and strengthening our Gaelic language.
“Events like the Mòd, and the language and culture which is at its heart, is hugely important to the social, cultural and economic fortunes of the Highland area.
“The success of the Royal National Mòd continues to show the enormous appeal that traditional Gaelic culture continues to have for people from across the world.”
The last census in 2022 showed an increase in the number of people in the Highlands with Gaelic skills.
The largest percentage increases were found in the age 3-15 and age 25-34 age groups.
Efforts to broaden Gaelic language opportunities for young people inside and outside of a school setting is a key ambition of Highland Council, and a vital strand in its Gaelic language plan.
