Scotland's biggest celebration of Gaelic culture and music will
be officially opened today (Friday) by the Cabinet Secretary for
Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan.
The Royal National Mòd is set for a record-breaking year with
almost 300 events hosted in Glasgow across more than a week.
Ahead of the opening concert at the Royal Concert Hall, Ms
McAllan will present the prestigious award for Gaelic Ambassador
of the Year.
The world's biggest festival of Scottish Gaelic culture begins as
the Scottish Government confirms more than £1 million has been
allocated from funding to help local authorities prepare for
designating Areas of Linguistic Significance. This includes
funding for staff training to deliver Gaelic community events in
the Western Isles and support for Gaelic workshops and improved
services in the Highlands.
Ms McAllan said:
In the year that has passed since the last Royal National Mòd,
Gaelic can now claim alongside Scots official status as a
language of Scotland, thanks to the Scottish Languages Act.
Among the Act's most important measures is the introduction of
Areas of Linguistic Significance, which will sustain Gaelic
through a range of activities in which speakers can use the
language and help it to thrive.
I am pleased to report strong progress is being made, with more
than £1 million allocated to support preparatory work required to
designate these Areas.
Once this happens, the Scottish Government and its public bodies
will further focus support on improving economic and social
opportunities which help the growth of the Gaelic language for
generations to come.
Background
An Area of Linguistic Significance is designated under the
Scottish Languages Act 2025, in recognition of an area's
connection to Gaelic, including the population of people with
Gaelic skills, the presence of Gaelic-medium education and
learning or activity related to the Gaelic language, culture or
history.
Funding has been awarded to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (£315,000),
City of Edinburgh Council (£96,936) Highland Council (£256,407),
and Argyll and Bute (£350,000) with a further award to Glasgow
expected in the near future.
