Entries for the Royal National Mòd senior piping competitions are now open as a huge month of piping gets underway, with keen pipers urged to enter soon to ensure their places in this year’s esteemed contest later this year.
The Royal National Mòd will make its much-anticipated return to Oban between 11 – 19 October 2024, where the first ever event was held in 1892.
The Mòd 2024 senior piping competitions will take place on Saturday 12 October at Oban High School, organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach and The Competing Pipers Association.
The Competing Pipers Association are managing entries for the senior contest, with entries set to close at 5pm on Thursday 22 August. Entries can be submitted now at www.competingpipers.com.
The event will feature A & Premier and B Grade competitions, both of which will have a Pìobaireachd, and March, Strathspey and Reel event and will require the standard four tunes for each competition. Further information on the competitions can be found at www.ancomunn.co.uk/nationalmod/syllabus.
They will form part of a packed programme of competitions and fringe events for this year’s Royal National Mòd. Scotland’s premier Gaelic cultural event will celebrate language and culture, traditional music, song, drama, literature, art and sport, with hundreds of musicians and artists set to bring their talents to Oban venues during the nine-day event.
James Graham, Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “It’s brilliant to be partnering with The Competing Pipers Association once again for this year’s Royal National Mòd senior piping competition as we return to Oban, the spiritual home of the Mòd.
“Argyll and Bute is renowned for its outstanding piping tradition, and we’re confident that this year’s competition will draw in some of the very best pipers from across Scotland and beyond. We can’t wait to witness what I’m sure will be a fiercely fought contest in October, with performances to inspire and uplift every generation of musicians. I would encourage pipers to submit their competition entries now.”
This year’s Royal National Mòd in Oban is supported by EventScotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Argyll and Bute Council, The Scottish Government, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA, Creative Scotland and SQA.
Oban Mòd Senior Piping Competition entries close at 5pm on Thursday 22 August. Entries can be submitted now at www.competingpipers.com.
The Royal National Mòd takes place in Oban from 11 – 19 October 2024. For more information, visit www.ancomunn.co.uk. The fringe programme is available to view at https://shorturl.at/2bvh5.
Headline image: Arran Green, 16 years old from Bannockburn High, scooped a double win. Arran took home the W.G.G. Wilson Trophy for the 16-18 Piobaireachd, and the Royal Highland Fusiliers Cup for the 16-18 March, Strathspey and Reel, last year
All photo credits: Royal National Mòd