There’s something so hauntingly beautiful about Gaelic singing. The words and music are soft and so full of love.
And it’s wonderful to see how close the community is, even so far from home. The Royal National Mòd runs until 17th October in Glasgow, with many competitors and entertainers coming down from the islands.
Award-winning singer, writer and composer, Josie Duncan hails from the Isle of Lewis but is now based in the city and she led a Ceóls Coiridh at the Mòd Fringe with like-minded people at Edward House as part of the festival.
The traditional music session was a chance to celebrate the life of renowned Gaelic singer Murdo Macfarlane, whose work was a catalyst for a whole era of modern music.
Murdo was from Lewis too, known as the Melbost Bard and spent his life campaigning up to his death in 1982 to help the movement go from strength to strength.
A popular man, who lived life to the full and was known for being the last to bed and the first one up in the morning.
And Josie was the perfect person to pay homage with her voice described as “intensely beautiful” allowing her to bridge tradition and innovation with effortless grace.
A two hour performance saw Josie sing a handful of timeless melodies before she invited the audience to pick and sing their own favourite tunes.
The result was a lovely night of beautiful harmony and friendship in tribute to Murdo famously described as having “Depth, and light, and a unique, searching mind in action”.
Fans of Gaelic have embraced the popular Mòd and kicked off with a celebratory tone with a concert which marked four decades of Gaelic Medium Education in Glasgow.
Venues across the city are holding competitions in piping, language, poetry, dance, music and sport, as well as the Mòd Fringe with events for all the family.
Maggie Cunningham, Chair of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said:
“Seeing each new edition of the Royal National Mòd get underway is always a hugely special moment and Glasgow has once again done itself and the event proud. By extending its famously warm welcome to one and all, the ‘City of Gaels’ has created a festival line-up inclusive of fluent speakers, learners and newcomers alike – an approach that looks set to grow Gaeldom’s loyal following even further over the festival and long beyond and show that Gaelic is alive and thriving.”
This year’s Royal National Mòd, which runs in Glasgow until Saturday 17th October, is supported by Glasgow Life, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, The Scottish Government, VisitScotland, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA, Creative Scotland and Qualifications Scotland.
For more information and ticket availability, please visit: www.modghlaschu2026.org.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photograph courtesy of The Royal National Mòd
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