THERE will be plenty of reasons for high spirits in Oban next month, when the Royal National Mod comes to town for the first time in nine years. There will be high quality singing, music and dancing to enjoy; bars and restaurants will be packed to the rafters, as will be the town’s hotels, inns and bed and breakfast establishments. Last year’s event, in Inverness, generated £3.5m for the local economy; the picture this year will be similar.
Gaels will descend on the Argyll port in the knowledge that their language is in a healthier shape than it has been for some time. The results of the 2011 Census showed that the haemorrhaging of Gaelic speakers has been all but stemmed, and significantly, there was an increase of 10 per cent in the numbers of those below the age of 15 and a rise of 15 per cent in the 16-29 age group.
Strong political backing has of course played a major part, as has the growth of Gaelic-medium education, but the Mod has long performed a key role in keeping the language in the national consciousness, even in times when Gaels had little else to cheer. Organisers, competitors and audiences will be entitled to raise their glasses as well as their singing voices.
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