Prince Charles To Visit Caithness Mod

1st October 2010

HRH THE DUKE OF ROTHESAY TO VISIT 107th ROYAL NATIONAL Ṃd

CAITHNESS EVENT RECEIVES ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL

Am Ṃd Nàiseanta Ŕoghail (The Royal National Ṃd), Scotland's premier festival celebrating Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage, will this year play host to a very special visitor, HRH The Duke of Rothesay.

On Thursday 14th October, HRH The Duke of Rothesay will visit the nine day celebration of Gaelic music, dance, drama, arts and literature, meeting local Gaelic and Caithness organisations, listening to Gaelic music and presenting the prestigious Gold Medals.

The Royal National Mod, which runs from Friday 8th until Saturday 16th October, is set to attract thousands of spectators to the Caithness towns of Wick and Thurso.

John Morrison, chief executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach said: "HRH The Duke of Rothesay will have the opportunity to meet some of the competitors, staff and local community who have worked hard all year to make this year's Royal National Mod a success.

"Fourteen years ago, HRH The Duke of Rothesay visited the 1996 Royal National Mod in Blairgowrie and we're delighted to welcome His Royal Highness back to the Mod, this time to Caithness to help celebrate the first time the Mod has been here in its 118 year history."

John McLeod, president of An Comunn Gàidhealach, will join The Duke as he meets a select set of businesses and local producers as part of the Gaelic and Caithness showcase which takes place in The Dome, North Highland College in Thurso. His Royal Highness will have the opportunity to chat to some of the local Caithness businesses including Mackay Country Project, Swelkie Felt and Mey Selections who will be exhibiting their products and services as part of the showcase.

The Duke will also view a selection of the finest local food and drink produce on show as part of 'Scotland's Year of Food and Drink', which is supported by EventScotland. The initiative has been launched to encourage people in Scotland to experience great produce on their doorstep.

Members of Caithness based Mey Selections whose products and ingredients are sourced from within a 100 mile radius of the Castle of Mey, the Queen Mother's home in Caithness, will meet His Royal Highness and offer a taster of a specially designed shortbread for the Mod.

The Duke of Rothesay will also present the two winners of the Mod Gold Medal competition with their prizes. The Gold Medal, which can only be won once in a lifetime by an individual, is awarded for solo singing in Gaelic, with one medal for men and one for women. The winners will then treat HRH to an exclusive performance of the Gold Medal winning song.

Organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach, which is the oldest and most respected Gaelic organisation, The Royal National Ṃd is a competition based festival which attracts competitors from Gaelic communities throughout the UK, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Canada and the USA and is considered the biggest event of the Gaelic calendar.

The festival kicks off on Friday 8th October with a grand opening ceremony taking place in the early evening followed by a traditional energetic ceilidh to get visitors in the mood for the week long competitive festival.

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, the national events agency, said: "We're delighted to see HRH The Duke of Rothesay visiting The Royal National Ṃd - one of Scotland's most unique events celebrating Gaelic culture and heritage. It's particularly fitting that His Royal Highness, such a passionate believer in the values of organic produce, should pay a visit in 2010 -Scotland's Year of Food and Drink."

The Royal National Ṃd is supported by The Highland Council, Caledonian MacBrayne, EventScotland, the national events agency, through its International Funding Programme, Ḅrd na Gàidhlig, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Royal Mail, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and BBC Alba.

For full festival programme and details, visit www.acgmod.org