An economic boost for the Western Isles and a boom in publicity for Gaelic have been hailed as the Royal National Mod drew to a close last night.
More than 3,000 competitors and their families have flocked to Stornoway and other parts of the islands for the showpiece Gaelic festival, which attracted high profile visits from Prince Charles and deputy first minister John Swinney.
The Mod began to draw to a close yesterday – with the choirs taking centre stage as the coveted Lovat and Tullibardine trophy was awarded as the final prize on offer.
Yesterday the organisers hailed the success of the event – and revealed that the Mod will return to Inverness in 2020.
The Highland capital hosted the event as recently as 2014 and was praised for its facilities and welcoming atmosphere.
It is estimated that the Mod will have generated close to £3million for the island economy over the past nine days.
John Macleod, president of organisers An Comunn Gaidhealach, said: “It’s been a great week for the Mod, it’s been a great week for Gaelic.
“We’ve had a visit from His Royal Highness, the Lord of the Isles (Prince Charles) and the deputy first minister, both giving our language strong support at a very high level and we appreciate that very much.
He added: “We do an economic assessment every year which ranges somewhere between £2.5million to £3.5million.
“I think the highest it has been is when the Mod was in Inverness in 2014 and last year in Oban it was £2.8million.
“I would think it probably won’t be as high as £3million in the Western Isles. We have to recognise the number of people who attend the event and the contribution to the island economy might not be as much as it would be in a city.
“We await the results of this year’s survey but we’re confident that with attendances and the numbers of competitors and their family means the popularity of the event will reveal a very significant economic benefit to an area which needs every help it can get in order to survive and develop.
“It is very difficult in the islands to maintain and develop a strong economic base and we’re happy to be here and contribute to that in our own way.”
The decision to award the 2020 Mod to Inverness was announced by An Commun yesterday – with Inverness provost Councillor Helen Carmichael in Stornoway for the announcement.
She said: “I am delighted that the Royal National Mod will be returning to the capital of the Highlands in 2020.
“Highland Council is committed to the development of the Gaelic language and the flagship Royal National Mod is most welcome to Inverness.”
She added, “I wish to take this opportunity to thank An Comunn for inviting me here today to warmly welcome and accept that the Royal National Mòd will take place in the City of Inverness and wish An Comunn and the Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee every success with the 2020 Mòd.
The final ceremonial event of the Mod will take place today with a massed choir parade from Stornoway Town Hall to the Nicolson Institute, starting at midday.
An Commun chief executive John Morrison said: “As we almost reach the end of our time here in the Western Isles, we can’t thank the Western Isles and the local organising committee enough for their hospitality.”