​A packed opening weekend at Royal National Mòd 2025 in Lochaber has struck the right note with festivalgoers, drawing crowds and setting expectations high for what’s still to come over the week ahead.

Founded in 1891 by An Comunn Gàidhealach to encourage the teaching, learning and use of the Gaelic language, few could have envisaged how significant the event would become – with support for the festival showing no signs of abating.

Locals and visitors alike lined Lochaber’s shinty pitches yesterday to witness a raft of home region wins. Lundavra claimed the Youth Mòd Cup, while Lochaber won the Women’s Mòd Cup, lifting the LearnGaelic Trophy after a win on penalties. Ballachulish emerged victors in the Men’s Mòd Cup to take the Aviemore Trophy at An Àird.

Lochaber High School Astro was every bit as busy, with Alba Football Association men’s team being put through their paces in the first of two days of Training Camp. A voice for Gaelic in football, Alba FA uses football as a force to connect, inspire and grow Scottish Gaelic.

Away from sports, close to 200 competitions in Gaelic music and culture got underway, including a busy day of traditional music competitions spanning fiddle, accordion and piano and the fiercely contested Mòd Piping Championships.

Junior and senior piping took place at Lochaber High School and it was Cameron May from Dillarburn in South Lanarkshire who took the Pìobaireachd Premier & A Grade piping title.

In the junior piping, Oban High School’s Lily Robertson, age 16, scooped the W.G.G. Wilson Trophy for the 16-18 Piobaireachd, and 16-year-old Charlie Mack, of East Lothian’s Preston Lodge High School, took the Royal Highland Fusiliers Cup for the 16-18 March, Strathspey and Reel. In the 16-18 Hornpipe & Jig, Tobermory High School ⁠student Hugh Ronald Anderson came out on top, lifting the Dugald Campbell Cowan (Oban) Trophy.

In the under 16s Pìobaireachd competition, 14-year-old James Silcock from Falkirk celebrated his first ever win at the Mòd, lifting the Dr DS MacLaggan Memorial Trophy. James also placed second in both the Under 16s 2/4 March and Under 16s Strathspey and Reel competitions.

Hailing from Skye, 15-year-old Seonaidh Forrest of Plockton High School won the Under 16 2/4 March title, taking home the Roderick Munro Quaich, while Lockerbie Academy’s Harris Morford took first place in the Strathspey and Reel category for under 16s.

For art lovers, there was the official opening of the 2025 Highland Art Prize exhibition at McCallum Art House in Fort William – and with it, the much-anticipated unveiling of this year’s shortlisted artworks.

Judges Beth Robertson Fiddes and Donnie Munro, both accomplished artists in their own rights, selected the following 12 artworks from the 70 on show from across the Highlands and Islands:

• Stacks at Mangersta by Lillian Crichton, Open Studios Hebrides

• Cnoc Fuar by Mike Darling, An Tobar and Mull Theatre

• Falls by Laura Donkers, Uist Arts Association

• The World’s on Fire by Christine Ewan, Art Society of Inverness

• Narrowlands by Daniel Freytag, Artmap Argyll

• George’s Window of Contentment by Carole Gutteridge, Society of Badenoch and Strathspey Artists

• Washed Up/Bàrrlach by Anna Raven/Anna Nic an Fhithich, An Ealdhain Arts Trust, Lochaber

• High Up by Stephen Redpath, An Talla Solais, Ullapool

• Shore – “Why did the spring-tide not last”/Tràigh – “Ciamar nach do mhair an reothart” by Charlie Scott, Scottish Arts Club

• Borrowdale by Debbie Shepherd, Society of Badenoch and Strathspey Artists

• Sentinel of the Northwest/Fear-faire an iar-thuath by Katherine Sutherland, East Sutherland Art Society

• Who Controls the Past Controls the Future, Who Controls the Present Controls the Past by Ian Whyte, Art Society of Inverness.

The exhibition will be on display to the public until Saturday 18 October, with the prize-giving taking place on Friday 17 October from 12.30pm. This year’s winner will receive £1,000 to be shared with their local art organisation, along with the opportunity to exhibit at The Briggait in Glasgow, courtesy of Wasps Studios.

Bringing the day’s Gaelic celebrations to a close was the ever-popular Ar Cànan ’s Ar Ceòl concert. With musical direction by Lochaber’s own talent Ewen Henderson, the audience was treated to an evening of music and dance.

There were live performances by pipe bands, Gaelic choirs, Lochaber Strathspey and Reel Society, Fèis Lochabair Cèilidh Trail, Ardnamurchan High School group ‘Sealladh’ and the Jane Douglas School of Dance. Not forgetting a very special house-band consisting of Lochaber musicians Ewen himself, Rachel Walker, Angus Nicolson, Ross Martin and Robert Nairn.

As day three of the Royal National Mòd 2025 gets underway, there’s the opportunity for reflection and worship at the Mòd Church Service which takes place from 2.30pm at Duncansburgh Church, with the service broadcast live on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal.

Later this evening, Duncansburgh Church will also play host to a night of Celtic Praise, giving thanks through Gaelic language, music and song, starting at 7pm.

James Graham, outgoing Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “It’s a quite incredible feeling to hear the Gaelic language spoken in every corner of Fort William and to see its arts, culture and sports showcased at every turn, something that only the Mòd can deliver.

“It really hits home just how much can be achieved when people come together in celebration and, hopefully, will go a long way to further inspire our younger Gaels to take up the baton and help ensure that the Royal National Mòd itself, and the Gaelic way of life at its heart, thrive for generations to come.”

Looking ahead to Monday 13 October, there are a whole host of activities to engage younger Gaels and newcomers to the language. For children aged five and under, there will be a Bookbug story, song and rhyme session, with mums, dads and carers all welcome.

For primary-aged children there will be a Sradagan Children’s Gaelic Club, along with the chance for seven to 11 year olds to try their hand in television with the CBBC ALBA team, and for eight to 12 year olds to learn Stand Up Paddleboarding. And for Gaelic-tongued teens, there’s the opportunity to take a crash course in content creation and video production as part of a Cruth cohort.

For Gaels of all ages to enjoy, meanwhile, there’s the Junior Literature Prizegiving ceremony, A Celebration of Oysters workshop, the first of two Family Cèilidhs and an evening Piping Recital.

This year’s event is supported by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Highland Council, The Scottish Government, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA, Creative Scotland and SQA.

The Royal National Mòd runs in Lochaber until 18 October. Tickets for flagship events at https://buytickets.at/ancomunn.

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