Welcome to the 2012 Royal National Mod at Dunoon
The Royal National Mod will take place in Dunoon from the period 12th October to 20th October 2012 .
A local MOD Committee is in place which has had experience of supporting “An Comunn Gàidhealach”, in hosting and running the Royal National Mod in the years 1994, 2000 and 2006. Plans are now well in place with the members of the Local MOD Committee working very hard to raise their element of the finances required that will ensure that the Royal National MOD 2012 event will be the success that previous events have been. The Local MOD Committee with the support of Argyll and Bute Council and the local Community have demonstrated that Dunoon is an ideal venue suitably located, with quality hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation and all within easy walking distance of the town centre, where there is equally an abundance of quality venues to host the various Royal National Mod competitions and Feis events.
It is estimated that the economic benefit and spend to the local community from hosting the event will be between 3 to 5 million pounds so the target and challenge for the partnership between” An Comunn” and the Local Mod Committee will be to secure an increase in competitors to the various competitions in the coming months and the securing of that economic benefit. The Local Mod Committee have a target of £25,000 pounds to raise as their contribution to securing the event as well as funding some of the activities that will take place during MOD week all estimated in total from past experiences to be around £50,000 pounds. The Committee have been working hard over the last year and more to raise funds through their local shop now set up and trading at the Queens Hall Building, Argyll Street, Dunoon. The shop hours are from lOam until 4pm Monday to Saturday. All donations of goods for resale will be gratefully received at the shop as well as offers from volunteers wishing to assist in the shop. Information can be secured from the MOD Shop convener Chrissie Burbridge telephone number 01369703761.
A programme of fund raising activities and entertainment has been arranged throughout the year with Ceilidhs at the Park Hotel, Coffee mornings and attendance at local events with Tombola Stalls and Raffles. Past events have included a local Treasure Hunt along with Ceilidh’s in the Park Hotel, Dunoon with music provided by Ross MacPherson and Gunna Sound. Details of future events can be obtained from our entertainment Convener, lan Wilson 01369703620 and from our local press as well as Dunoon Community Radio. So watch the local press for further details.
An important area for us in hosting the National Mod is with local accommodation and we are working with the local and national tourist organisations to ensure that we will be able to accommodate the numbers of visitors coming to our town during mod week. If you have spare accommodation and would be willing to make this available during mod week then please contact Rona large our accommodation Convener at 01369700061 with your details.
The local Committee will also focus its attention on all transportation requirements during MOD week to ensure that competitors and judges arrive on time at the various competitions. We have in place a pool of drivers and vehicles but if you wish to assist or require further details then please contact our Transport Convener John Hackett at 01369706963.
As in previous Royal National MOD arrangements, the aim of the local branch of An Comunn is to progress the continued development of the Gaelic language and culture, fully recognising the policy position of Bord na Gaidhlig and Argyll and Bute Council’s Development Plan. Pre-school, primary and secondary Gaelic medium education continues to develop and thrive as well as many Gaelic learning Initiatives in the wider community. Our pre-school, primary and secondary schools have been successful contributors and participators over the years in the Royal National MOD and we expect this will be the case also with the 2012 event. We have ambitions to reinstate the local Gaelic Choir to continue further the progress made but we need a Gaelic Choir conductor. So if you would like to assist us with securing a conductor then please contact Angela Johnson at 01369702978 or Kirsty Mundell at 01369870244 our local MOD Secretaries. The community of Dunoon and Cowal has a wealth of musical performers in Gaelic traditional music, as well as very good Gaelic singers and we will use this strength as we progress the development of our Gaelic language and culture in the Dunoon and Cowal area.
During MOD week 2012 in our planning at this stage we propose utilising the accommodation of our local Dunoon Grammar School with also the local primary schools for all the children’s events in the early part of the week. Musical competitions, drama and recitals will also take place in the local venues. The larger Choir competition and medal events will take place in local venues centred around the town centre as in previous years. The Feis events will take place in local hotels, public houses and local central venues with the final details of this still to be worked out with the local proprietors.
Since 1994, our Local Committee and An Comunn, have enjoyed the full support of the community in terms of stewarding, fund raising, organising and in general, welcoming and embracing the Royal National MOD in the town of Dunoon. We are confident that this support remains and with the continued support of our community we aim to ensure that the popular view that all Gaels share of Dunoon is that Dunoon is a friendly, supportive town and an ideal venue for hosting the Royal National MOD. For further information on venues and stewarding contact Jim Anderson at 01369705104. For support towards catering activities please contact our ladies Convener Christina Stark at 01369700824.
If you would like to assist the Committee in any way with the above arrangements then please contact the various Conveners mentioned above or contact Dick Walsh Local MOD Convener at 01369700824, or Jim Ross , Vice Convener at 01369705115.
