The online entry system to compete in this year’s Royal National Mòd closes soon. Junior pipers wishing to take part in the 2024 event, taking place from 11-19 October 2024 in Oban, have until midnight on Friday 31 May 2024 to submit their entries here. Senior piping entries are administered by the Competing Pipers Association, and for more information contact: cpa_sec@yahoo.co.uk
The Mòd offers solo piping competitions for Premier and A Grade players, B Grade and a full range of Junior under-age categories down to U13 chanter competitions — see the categories below.
This year marks a poignant homecoming for the iconic event, Scotland’s premier celebration of the Gaelic language, music and culture, as it returns to Oban for the 17th time.
Oban is fondly recognised as the home of the Mòd, with An Comunn Gàidhealach, the organisation who run the Royal National Mòd and a network of local Mòds across Scotland, founded there in 1891. They went on to hold the first ever Mòd in the Argyllshire town the following year.
Between 11 – 19 October, Oban’s venues, pubs and streets will come to life with musical competition, processions, concerts, workshops, sessions and more.
The full list of competitions taking place for Oban’s 2024 Mòd, including singing, bàrdachd, instrumental, drama and Highland dancing categories, can be found in the Mòd syllabuses at ancomunn.co.uk/nationalmod/syllabus and entries can be submitted before the end of the month at https://enter.ancomunn.co.uk/.
Marina MacKay, Mòd Officer at An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “With just over two weeks until competition entries close, I strongly encourage anyone thinking about applying for the 2024 Mòd to submit their application and make sure they are part of this year’s spectacular event in Oban. Last year’s Mòd in Paisley welcomed over 8,000 visitors, including over 2,000 participants, to over 200 events and we expect this year’s festival to bring together even more people to celebrate Gaelic music and culture. We’re looking forward to welcoming Scotland’s best singers and players from across the Gaeldom to this year’s festival.”
Chanter/Bagpipes Competition Rules: to be read in conjunction with the Royal National Mod Competition Rules
- This is a competition open to Junior players aged 18yrs and under who have not competed in any adult Bagpipe competition.
- Competitors must be within the prescribed age group on the first day of October of the year in which the Mòd is held.
- Competitors in events P01 and P02 are not eligible for other events.
- Competitors in event P03 are not eligible for other events other than P07 subject to age qualification.
- Competitors entering event P08 cannot also compete in P07.
- Competitors who have performed a full Pìobaireachd in any competition cannot compete in event P07.
- Competitors may only enter events in their own age group.
Competitors must be prepared to present themselves in the order of play as specified in the programme, or as directed by the Stewards. Failure to do so may mean disqualification.
