The Mòd: Scotland's celebration of Gaelic language and culture

Pipers lead a torchlight procession on the opening day of the Gaelic festival

Over the next nine days, the Royal National Mòd is taking place in the west Highlands.

The event will bring together competitors and visitors for what is described as the world's largest event celebrating Gaelic language and culture.

What is the Mòd?

Choir competitions are a major feature of the Mòd

The Mòd 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.

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

Gold medals for singing are among the event's most coveted prizes.

Last year, more than 70 gold medallists gathered in Glasgow for a celebration of Gaelic songs, with the oldest of the singers in their 80s.

Where is it taking place?

Competitions will be held at venues in and around Fort William

This year's Mòd has been dubbed Lochaber 2025 and competitions will take place at venues in and around Fort William.

Bagpipers will compete in the town's Lochaber High School, and accordion players in Caol Community Centre.

Singers will gather at the Nevis Centre and local churches, while The Highland Cinema hosts poetry recitals.

A full list of competition venues is available online.

There are also competitions for choirs, Highland dancing and art.

The Mòd is on until Saturday 18 October.

It is the ninth time the event has visited Lochaber. The first time it was held there was in 1922.

What else is happening during the Mòd?

Ewen Henderson, centre, of the band Mànran will be making an appearance during the Mòd

Concerts, exhibitions, music sessions, processions, street cèilidhs and sport are all on planned says An Comunn Gàidhealach.

Other activities will include book launches and food and drink tastings.

There will be performances by Ewen Henderson of the band Mànran, Gaelic singer Rachel Walker and master pipers Allan MacDonald and Angus Nicolson.

Highland Council has offered a discounted parking season ticket for use in its seven public car parks in Fort William during the Mòd.

The local authority said the £11 season tickets should be bought from: www.myringgo.co.uk.

Local company Shiel Buses is also offering performers and audiences a shuttle service around Fort William.

How many people use Gaelic?

Gaelic's heartland are the Western Isles

The number of people using Gaelic increased across Scotland despite a decline in the language's heartland, according to the latest census data published last year.

Experts said the increase in Gaelic medium education (GME) accounted for the rise.

However, Gaelic was recorded as a minority language in the Western Isles - while 52% reported speaking Gaelic in 2011, the figure in 2022 was 45%.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes told BBC Scotland News at the time that Scottish Gaelic was part of a "modern, diverse Scotland".

Ahead of the opening of Lochaber 2025, the Scottish government said Gaelic medium schools throughout the Highlands are to receive audio devices which will provide pupils with access to 70 Gaelic stories, songs and poems.

The initiative is being delivered through a £75,000 package.

How to follow the Mòd

BBC Alba will be covering the festival on radio, television and online.

For the coverage go to:

• Radio nan Gàidheal

• BBC Alba on iPlayer

• BBC Naidheachdan