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Mòd Phàislig 2023

Friday 13th – Saturday 21st October 2023

What’s On

You can read the main competition programme by clicking this link:

Mòd Competition Programme

You can also download a copy of our fringe programme and plan your visit – just click on this link:

Mòd Fringe Programme (pdf)

Friday 13 October

Breabach: Mòd 2023 Opening Concert (Paisley Town Hall, 7.30pm)
A special concert headlined by one of Scotland’s most skilled and imaginative contemporary acts.

Saturday 14 October

Mòd Shinty Cups (King George V Playing Fields – Renfrew, 10.30am/12pm/2pm)

Mòd Football Cup (King George V Playing Fields – Renfrew, 3pm)

Our Language Our Music (Paisley Town Hall, 7.30pm)
An unforgettable night of traditional music and Gaelic culture with talent from Renfrewshire and beyond.

Sunday 15 October

Gaelic Nature Walk (Fountain Gardens, 2pm)
Experience Paisley’s oldest public gardens centred around the Grand Central Fountain.

Mòd Church Service (Paisley Abbey, 2.30pm)

Gaelic Mass (St Mirin’s Cathedral, 5pm)

Celtic Praise (Methodist Central Hall, 7pm)

Monday 16 October

Sruth “Buainidh Aon Fhacal Ceud” (Paisley Town Hall, 10am-4pm)
An opportunity for young people to come and chat with some of Gaeldom’s best-known stars. 

Gaelic Circus Skills Workshops (Community Circus Paisley, 1.30pm & 3pm)
Come along and try out our activities while learning a little bit of Gaelic.

Children’s Cèilidh (UWS Student Union, 7pm)
Fun for all the family with music, games and plenty of dancing. Supported and delivered by Comunn na Gàidhlig. 

Battle of the Bands Heats (Re:Hope Church, 7pm)
A competition showcasing the emerging talent on the Gaelic and traditional music scene.

Tuesday 17 October

Sruth “Buainidh Aon Fhacal Ceud” (Paisley Town Hall, 10am-4pm)

Children’s Cèilidh (UWS Students Union, 7pm)

Battle of the Bands Final (Re:Hope Church, 7pm)
The winning band will receive a prize of studio time with JJ Recordings Studio, Paisley.

The Frances Tolmie Collection Concert – Gun Sireadh Gun Iarraidh (Paisley Town Hall, 8pm)
Join Ainsley Hamill and Kenna Campbell in a newly created show to launch the reworked Gaelic song collection of Frances Tolmie: Gun Sireadh Gun Iarraidh.

Wednesday 18 October

Literature Prizegiving (Paisley Town Hall, 12pm)
Join us at this year’s Literature prize giving ceremony as we celebrate with some of the winning competitors in writing, art and media categories.

100 Years of Bards (Paisley Town Hall, 2pm)
Join An Comunn Gàidhealach and book publisher, CLÀR, to launch the new book.

The Silver Pendant Final (Paisley Town Hall, 2pm)
Performances from top male and female singers as they compete for the Silver Pendant.

The Conversation of the Bards (Paisley Town Hall, 3pm)
Peter MacKay, An Comunn’s Bàrd for 2022, in conversation with the newly appointed bàrd for 2023.

Somhairle MacLean – In his Own Words (Paisley Town Hall, 4.30pm)
Join Jo MacDonald and Mairi Sine Campbell as they talk about the new book – Somhairle MacGill-Eain – Na Bhriathran Fhèin.

Mòd Drama Final (PACE Youth Theatre at The Art Department, 7pm)
A very popular, lively evening of performances by local community drama groups from across Scotland, competing fiercely for a wide range of awards.

The An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal Final (Paisley Town Hall, 7.30pm)
Performances from top male and female singers as they compete for the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal. 

Thursday 19 October

Digital Presentation of 2023 Highland Art (Paisley Town Hall, 12.30pm)

Combined Rural Choirs’ Competitions (Paisley Town Hall, 1.30pm)
Choirs contest the Lorn Shield and Sheriff MacMaster Campbell Memorial Quaich. 

Welcome Cèilidh (Tannahill Centre – Ferguslie, 5pm)
A warm welcome to come along and celebrate the Royal National Mòd featuring a diverse range of music acts, Cèilidh dancing, food and stories from around the world.

The Traditional Gold Medal Final (Paisley Town Hall, 7.30pm)
The top traditional singers contest the coveted Mary Lamont Traditional Gold Medal.

Paisley Patter (Paisley Town Hall, 8.30pm)
A humorous look at our own voices and words, explored through spoken letters to Paisley and Glasgow.

Friday 20 October

Combined Area Choirs’ Competition (Paisley Town Hall, 1.30pm)
The regional choirs contest the Lovat & Tullibardine & Margrat Duncan trophies. 

Welcome to BSL by Evie Waddell (Paisley Town Hall, Workshop 4.30pm & Show 8pm)
Experiences of creative and political connection through isolation are at the core of this vibrant show.

Saturday 21 October

Massed Choirs (Outside Paisley Town Hall, 10.30am)
Join the massed choirs for a fitting finale to the Paisley Mòd. 

Spooky Samhain Family Cèilidh (UWS Student Union, 1pm)
Celebrate Halloween and the Samhain Festival in the Gaelic tradition with a family cèilidh led by Fèis Phàislig, circus skills, kids entertainment, games and arts and crafts.

The Reeling x Mòd Phàislig 2023 (Paisley Town Hall, 7pm)
Folk-electronica powerhouse Niteworks will bring this year’s Royal National Mòd to a spectacular close. 

13 – 21 October

Mòd Festival Club (The Sneddon, Paisley)
Our lively, welcoming Mòd Festival Club is your go to place to relax, catch up with friends and enjoy everything the Mòd and Paisley has to offer.

Mòd Late & Live (Various venues)
Experience live traditional and Gaelic music from some of the best names in the businesses in our Paisley ‘late & live’ pubs. 

16 – 20 October

Gaelic Kids Club with Fèis Phàislig (Various venues)
A holiday camp style bookable session led by Fèis Phàislig.

Gaelic Bookbug (Various venues)
Songs, giggles and smiles at the Bookbug sessions running across our libraries, with a Gaelic twist!