No major changes planned to Mòd choir contest rules

Choir competitions are an important feature of the Mòd

The Royal National Mòd will not make major changes to the format of one of its most popular competitions for next year's festival, the BBC has learned.

Organisers, An Comunn Gàidhealach, had suggested rules around some categories for choirs could be relaxed to open them up to other genres of music - including barbershop and musicals.

The proposals followed a consultation with choirs last year.

But chairwoman Maggie Cunningham has confirmed to the BBC that no changes will be made for the Mòd in Glasgow next October.

Instead, An Comunn Gàidhealach said it was keen to support Gaelic learning.

It has sought views from choirs on how Gaelic language skills could be improved.

Ms Cunningham said: "We want to get the thoughts of all choirs to find the best ways to encourage members to take an interest in Gaelic and to learn and improve their language skills.

"We want to work closely with choirs on this. At the end of the day if there weren't choirs at the Mòd, we wouldn't have a Mòd."

She added that there were now many resources which could assist Gaelic learners, including Speak Gaelic.

The Mòd is described as the world's biggest celebration of Gaelic language and culture.

It has held competitions for traditional music, song, literature, drama and Highland dancing over the last 133 years.

The event is staged in a different Scottish town or city each year and draws competitors from Gaelic communities from across the UK and the rest of the world.

Inverness, Oban, Perth and Paisley are among the places to have hosted the Mòd.

This year's event was held in Lochaber.

Organiser, An Comunn Gàidhealach (The Highland Association), was founded in Oban in 1891.