THE ROYAL NATIONAL MOD LIVE FROM OBAN ON BBC ALBA

BBC ALBA is delighted to announce that for the second year running, it will be broadcasting daily programmes live from The Royal National Mod.

The Mod, organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach, is the Gaelic community’s most prestigious celebration of arts, music, culture and language and this year’s festival takes place in Oban, the hometown of the first ever Mod back in 1892.

BBC Gàidhlig will be producing a premier package of live hour-long programmes covering the daily highlights throughout the festival from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October.

Each live programme will be broadcast at 9.00pm on BBC ALBA and repeated that night at 11.20pm on BBC Two Scotland with a shorter, 45 minute review programme transmitting at 2.15pm the following day on BBC One Scotland.

The programmes will include performances from each day’s competitions and coverage of the prize-winner's concerts as well as the premier solo and choral competitions which are the highlight of the latter end of the week.

BBC Gàidhlig will also be producing a premier package for Radio nan Gàidheal with 30 hours of live radio coverage. Some material will also feature in ‘Dè a-nis?’ the award winning children's Gaelic language television programme for seven to 11 year olds.

Margaret Mary Murray, Head of Service for BBC ALBA, said: “The Mod has gained international recognition drawing competitors and visitors from throughout the UK as well as further afield from Ireland, US, Canada and even Australia. In recognising the popularity of such a prestigious festival, not only at home but also abroad, I am delighted that we are able to offer audiences the opportunity to enjoy the best of the Mod through our television and radio coverage".

John Morrison, Chief Executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “In this, the Year of Homecoming, An Comunn Gàidhealach is pleased to bring the Royal National Mod back to its birthplace, Oban. We are delighted that the BBC will again provide coverage of the event on both BBC ALBA and also on BBC One and Two Scotland. In addition, we are indebted to Radio nan Gàidheal for covering the event in a comprehensive and professional manner.

“The comprehensive package of BBC broadcasts allows us to showcase our premier Gaelic cultural event to an appreciative audience at home and overseas. The growth in interest in the event has been greatly assisted by the support of our broadcast partner and we thank them for their tremendous commitment to the Royal National Mod."

The multi-talented duo of Tony Kearney, actor and TV producer, and the highly acclaimed singer and musician, Mary Ann Kennedy will present the daily television programmes.

Tony said: “I'm delighted to be presenting the Mod with Mary Anne again this year. Oban is a fantastic venue being such a major port from the islands. I last competed as a singer at the Oban Mod nearly 19 years ago so this will be a trip down memory lane for me. Mary Anne and I both have Mod backgrounds so it’s great to be part of it all again and be involved in the fantastic coverage that the BBC always provides."

BBC ALBA’s weather presenter, Kirsteen MacDonald, who will be competing at Oban, has won the prestigious women's Gold Medal at the Royal National Mod in 2006 and won the women's traditional medal last year in Falkirk.