Family fun will be at the forefront of this year’s Royal National Mòd when it returns to Oban between 11 – 19 October 2024, bringing a packed programme of activities to town during the local school holidays.
Returning to its historic home, where the first ever event was held in 1892, Scotland’s premier Gaelic cultural event will celebrate the language and Scottish traditional music, song, drama, literature, art and sport, with hundreds of musicians and artists bringing their talents to Oban’s venues during the nine-day event.
Parents will be spoiled for choice for activities during the October school break thanks to the Royal National Mòd. The event celebrates Scotland’s linguistic and cultural heritage, with a special focus on engaging children and young people to ensure a future legacy for the language.
Offering an unmatched opportunity to be exposed to and learn Gaelic, a range of fun activities will be on offer, as well as chances for more advanced and native speakers to champion their language and meet fellow speakers of all ages.
With less than two months to go, here are the top events for families to get involved in during this year’s Mòd in Oban.
Family Cèilidhs
Running on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 October at The Corran Halls, the Family Cèilidhs are set to deliver fun for all the family, with music, games, and plenty of Scottish country dancing. These events are supported and delivered by Comunn na Gàidhlig and provide the perfect place for children to don their dancing shoes and expel some energy with a mix of dances to enjoy.
Oban’s Guide Hall will also host an Early Years Cèilidh on Tuesday 15 October, specifically tailored to families with younger children.
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
A chance to try something new at this year’s Mòd, Spòrs Gàidhlig will be hosting Stand Up Paddle Boarding sessions for P5-7s on Tuesday 15 October, and for S1-4s on Wednesday 16 October. Meeting at Corran Halls, young adventurers will then make their way out to explore the beautiful area around Oban by paddleboard, enjoying amazing views and learning new skills, all entirely through the medium of Gaelic.
Cruth Social Media
Delivered in partnership with FilmG and Astar Media, Cruth will give Gaelic-speaking teens a chance to become digital storytellers with a crash course in content creation and video production. Running at Oban Youth Cafe on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 October, participants will become roving reporters, interviewing festival-goers and capturing the spirit of the Mòd.
Leugh is Seinn with Linda MacLeod (Gaelic reading sessions)
Leugh is Seinn le Linda are fun-filled Gaelic reading sessions with stories, songs, puppets and games run by the Gaelic Books Council and led by their Gaelic reading ambassador and An Comunn Gàidhealach’s Gaelic Ambassador Linda Macleod. A morning session for wee ones aged 0-5 and an afternoon session for those aged 5 – 8 will be held at The Rockfield Centre on Wednesday 16th October with the aim of encouraging and developing Gaelic literacy in children across Scotland, all while having fun.
Gaelic Bookbug
Gaelic Bookbug provides songs, smiles and stories with a Gaelic twist for young book lovers and will take place at the Rockfield Playspace on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 October during the Mòd.
Sradagan (Gaelic Children’s Club)
Sradagan at the Mòd is a children’s Gaelic club with a range of activities including arts and crafts, parachute games and ball games, open to P1-7s in Gaelic Medium Education and fluent speakers. Taking place at Oban’s Guide Hall from Monday 14 – Wednesday 16 October, this is a fantastic opportunity for primary age children to get together and have fun during the school holidays while practising their Gaelic.
Gaelic Lego Club
On Sunday 13 October, the Rockfield Centre will be hosting a Gaelic Lego Club, where youngsters of all ages can pop in and build some amazing creations for fun. This event is suitable for any level and gives wee ones opportunities to learn some Gaelic through play.
Explorers Trail
From Sunday 13 – Friday 18 October, Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds will be hosting an Explorers Trail for all ages, with a chance of winning a prize at the end. Tickets and worksheets can be collected from the reception booth before setting off to explore the historical site.
Orienteering Challenge
An exciting and fun activity for young Gaelic speakers in P4-7, the Spòrs Gàidhlig Orienteering Challenge will take place at Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds on Monday 14 October. Youngsters will have a chance to try using maps to get to know the amazing historic venue, before getting stuck into the orienteering course, with prizes to be won along the way.
Art Sessions
Running at the Rockfield Art Space on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 October, the Mòd Oban Art Sessions are open to all levels of Gaelic, giving little ones a chance to get creative and practice their Gaelic together.
Sruth “Buainidh Aon Fhacal Ceud”
The Sruth drop-in events offer young people the chance to chat with some of Gaeldom’s best-known stars at Argyllshire Gathering Halls on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 October. Now in its third year, the informal event lets young Gaelic speakers engage in conversation with well-known Gaelic faces, helping grow exposure to and increase confidence in Gaelic among speakers of all ages and levels.
Skills Development Scotland activities
On Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 October Skills Development Scotland will be hosting free Drone Flying sessions for 10-16s at Argyllshire Gathering Halls, where pupils will have the opportunity to learn how to fly a drone, as well as how drones are being used in different, innovative ways in industries across the country.
On the same days, Skills Development Scotland will also be offering youngsters aged 10-14 on the ferry crossing between Oban and Mull the chance to Build a Lego Wind Turbine. Those taking part will be able to learn more about how wind energy is created and discover what careers are available in Scotland in this industry.
James Graham, Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “Children and families and young people are at the heart of the Royal National Mòd and it’s incredibly important to us to offer such a wide array of events tailored to them at Mòd an Òbain this October. It’s a fantastic opportunity for young people in and around Oban, or visiting the area, to speak and learn Gaelic, pick up new skills and make new friends, and most importantly have fun whilst getting a taste of what the Mòd is all about.
“We would encourage people to plan ahead and book the sessions they would like to attend in advance, and to take advantage of the wealth of activities available in the town. We can’t wait to see people of all ages get involved!”
Donald MacLean, Convenor of Mòd an Òbain 2024, said: “The significance of provision for young people in Gaelic cannot be understated – we boast such a fantastically vibrant community of young Gaelic speakers and parents here in Oban, with the thriving Gaelic medium units in Rockfield and Appin producing capable young Gaels year after year, bolstered by the local community groups, musical organisations and more.
It’s this engaging mix of talented and invested individuals that has brought this absolutely packed programme of content for young folk together, and I couldn’t be prouder of the work the committee has put in to bring this together. Mòd an Òbain promises to offer something for everyone – and this family fun packed programme confirms that vision!”
This year’s Royal National Mòd in Oban is supported by EventScotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Argyll and Bute Council, Bid4Oban, The Scottish Government, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA, Creative Scotland and SQA.
The Royal National Mòd takes place in Oban from 11 – 19 October 2024. To find out more about Oban Mòd events and to book tickets, visit www.modanobain.com. The fringe programme is available at https://shorturl.at/2bvh5.