Mòd 2007

The 20th ACGA National Mòd to be held September 7-9, 2007 in Ligonier, PA. We also will welcome Beathag Mhoireasdan of Glasgow, who returns to adjudicate her third U.S. National Mòd, and the Gold Medalists from Scotland’s 2006 Royal National Mòd in Dunoon, Kirsteen L NicDhòmhnaill of Inverness and Alasdair C Whyte from the Isle of Mull. Alasdair is the son of Riona Whyte, the 2001 Gold Medalist who was a special guest of ACGA at our Mòd in 2002.

This special anniversary event will celebrate not only Scottish Gaelic song, poetry, music, storytelling, writing and scholarship, but the achievements of the competitors, volunteers, adjudicators, and financial supporters who helped the U.S. National Mòd prosper and grow over the past two decades.

This year Mòd Naiseanta Aimearagaidh marks its 20th anniversary. The event that began in 1988 as a small competition held in Northern Virginia now features three days of competitions, cèilidhs and workshops.

Instructions on how to register for the Mòd, as well as information on the competitions and deadlines, are listed below.

While competitions form the core of the Mòd, the event is about much more than competitions, medals and awards. It is a place for Gaelic learners of all levels to meet and use the language outside the typical classroom setting. In addition to social events, the Mòd features workshops on diverse topics related to the Gaelic arts and language — from song workshops to panel discussions on Gaelic-medium education. This year, for the first time, it will feature language classes as well as other workshops in the Gaelic arts.

Our drama competition returns for a third year. And there will be plenty of opportunity for learners and fluent speakers alike to meet, greet and speak Gaelic together. The Mòd also welcomes the return of Gaelcast, the Internet-based, Scottish Gaelic program podcast from the United States, which last year interviewed Mòd competitors and Scottish guests for a special program. Visit http://www.gaelcast.com).

Over the years, the U.S. National Mòd has grown from its roots as a competition for individual singers to include competitions in poetry recitation and writing, storytelling, drama, translation and group competitions such as waulking and unison singing. The Mòd has created special awards such the Duais Iain Mhic Mhurchaidh or John MacRae Award for best original poem in Scottish Gaelic and the Duais Daibhidh Mhic Risnidh or DavidMacRitchie Award for best traditional story in the storytelling competition.

This year a new award will be added to the list: the Duais Iain Mhic a’ Ghobhainn or Iain Crichton Smith Award for best original short story, essay or article written in Scottish Gaelic. The award honors the late Scottish poet and writer Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn or Iain Crichton Smith (1928-1998). “Our goal with this award is to foster the development of Scottish Gaelic writing among learners and fluent speakers alike,” says Liam Ó Caiside, a member of the committee organizing the U.S. National Mòd. “We’ve received short stories and essays, as well as original poetry, for many years as part of our distance learning competition. We now want to go to the next level and recognize and encourage our prose writers.” Works submitted may be fiction or non-fiction in the form of a short story, an essay or column or a news or feature article on any topic. Published and unpublished works may be submitted. Additional information will be available in the Mòd registration packet as well as in this section of the Mòd page.

How to get to the Mòd

Here are directions to the Antiochian Village—it’s easy to find, and the scenery is beautiful! These directions are from the Antiochian Village website:

http://www.antiochianvillage.org/center/about/directions.html