Royal National Mod

The Royal National Mod, , is the annual national mod, a festival of Scottish Gaelic song, arts and culture. It was founded by and run by An Comunn Gaidhealach. St Columba's Church, Glasgow greatly influenced the Mod's inception when, in 1891, its choir was invited to give a Gaelic Concert in Oban, presided over by Lord Archibald Campbell. The concert was a huge success and was attended by most of the nobility, including Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife. After the Concert the Choir were entertained to supper at the Alexandra Hotel, and a description of the entertainment is given in one of William Black's novels. This concert was the prelude to the Gaelic Mod, the first being held at Oban the following year, when St. Columba Choir were successful in the Choir competition. It has been held most years in October since 1892  It is usually just called The Mod. The only years in which the National Mod was not held were the war years of 1914-1919 and 1939-1946. The "Royal" was not originally part of the name. It is still the practice of the St Columba's Church to send a Concert Party to start off the fund-raising when the Mod visits Oban. As well as winning the premier Choir competition for the first three years, the church has also had many Mod Gold Medallists including it's present minister, the Reverend Donald Michael MacInnes, who took the premier award in 1990
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