More Mods For Caithness Will Increase Business

30th August 2011

Caithness National Mod Leads to Increased Frequency of Regional Mod in Caithness

One of the direct benefits hoped for following the county's successful hosting of the Royal National Mod in October last year was an increase in the frequency of the regional Mod being hosted in Caithness. At the Annual General Meeting of the various committees representing the Caithness and Sutherland Mod, held in Bonar Bridge on Saturday (27th August) a proposal was put forward to increase the frequency of Caithness hosting the regional festival which attracts many visitors each year. The proposal was accepted and as a result the county will host the event next year in Wick. It was further agreed that Caithness should host the festival bi-annually thereafter, with the possibility of Halkirk being the next county venue in 2014. The Caithness and Sutherland Provincial Mod was last held in the county in Thurso in 2007 and eight years previously in Wick in 1999.

Chairman of the organising committee for the National Mod in Caithness last year, Mr Raymond Bremner said "We are delighted that the committees of the north area have agreed to the proposal to host the festival more frequently in Caithness. Many people involved in the Mod both at national and regional level and those who visited the National Mod in Caithness have been full of praise for the county and the local people. Part of the LEADER Highland and NDA support for the National event last year was to develop increased economic activity in the Caithness area as a result. The county has hosted the regional festival only twice in the past 20 years. With the regional festival being hosted in the county every second year now, the increased visitors and economic benefit for the local area can't be underestimated."

The announcement follows confirmation that Feis Ghallaibh (The Caithness Feis), an organisation created as a result of hosting the National Mod in Caithness, is increasing preparation to represent the county at this years National Mod in the Western Isles in October. Many local youngsters and parents will be attending, with the youngsters taking part in competitions including folk groups, a junior choir and soloists.

Caithness will also be represented at a fund raising event in Stornoway this weekend along with other representatives of the north including Wester Ross, Inverness and Lochaber. An open air event will be held in Percival Square in Stornoway fro 2pm - 4pm and a fund raising ceilidh will be held in the Royal British Legion in the evening starting at 8pm.