Thursday 12 October 2006
Radio Mod to air for Dunoon Mod
A new dimension will be brought to this year's Royal National Mod in Dunoon with Radio Mod 2006 providing a comprehensive daily radio service broadcasting from 8am to 8pm.
While BBC Scotland will continue to provide extensive and exclusive coverage of Mod events across its television, radio, digital and internet services, Radio Mod will be on air on 87.7FM providing additional coverage through its links with community stations throughout the Highlands and Islands and Central Scotland.
Funding for Radio Mod 2006 has been secured from Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Ghàidhlig (Gaelic Media Service). The £8,700 award will enable a major development in the service provided to community stations this year when they will receive twelve-hour daily broadcasts throughout the week of the Mod beginning on Saturday 14th October.
GMS chief executive Donald Campbell said, “Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig (GMS) is delighted to support this year’s Radio Mod. We are delighted that the service will be on-air for 12 hours every day and that so many of the Community Radio stations are participating in Radio Mod. GMS recognises the importance of community radio and its crucial role in delivering information to homes in all communities. We are confident that this new extended service will give listeners a diverse insight into this unique event, whilst offering a valuable training opportunity to Gaelic students who will benefit from the opportunity to work alongside experienced presenters and broadcasters alike”.
Although there is currently no community radio station in Dunoon, permission was granted from Ofcom for Radio Mod 2006 to provide a temporary service, making the programmes available in and around the Mod's host location as well as throughout the Highlands and Islands.
Radio Mod 2006 has enlisted the services of four presenters including Beathag Morrison, who has comprehensive knowledge of Gaelic music and literature and Robin Mackenzie, an experienced broadcaster with a comprehensive knowledge of Gaelic and Scottish music. In addition to the presenters, the Radio Mod 2006 team will include five Gaelic-speaking students. The students involved are either undertaking Gaelic and Media studies at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig or other Gaelic courses at the college.
Radio Mod 2006 will be produced by Murdo Morrison from Wishaw and Bragar on the island of Lewis, who has been presenting the two-hour "Radio Mod" programmes for over 15 years. The Gaelic-speaking students will be helping to produce the programmes from temporary Radio Mod 2006 studios in Dunoon.
The Radio Mod service provides valuable training and development opportunities for students and individuals as well as for the community radio stations which either currently exist or which as in the case of Dunoon Community Radio are currently being set up. It is expected that the experience gained at Radio Mod will be of great value as efforts to establish Dunoon Community Radio continue.
Welcoming the support of Gaelic Media Services for Radio Mod 2006, Calum Iain MacLeod, Chief Executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach which oversees the organization of the Royal National Mod said, “An Comunn Gaidhealach is delighted that Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig are supporting Radio Mod again this year and are grateful to them for their continuing support. We are also grateful to the various community radio stations which will be broadcasting Radio Mod programmes and bringing the Mod into homes across Scotland. Radio Mod has now become an integral part of the National Mod and enables listeners from communities across Scotland to get a “blas” of the unique Mod experience.”
The Royal National Mod is the annual showcase of Gaelic language, music and culture attracting an estimated 2000 competitors and up to 10,000 visitors from throughout the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Sweden and Brittany.
The Mod is held over nine days in a different location in Scotland each year and Dunoon Mod 2006 will be the 103rd Mod with the Opening Ceremony taking place in the Queens Hall on Friday 13th October at 7pm
For more information contact:
Murdo Morrison (Mod Promotion Manager) 07803 609774 or Murdo Morrison (Radio Mod) 01698 372638
