Mòd Chesapeake

Fàilte is furan oirbh gu Mòd Chesapeake 2025, comharrachadh air òrain, cultar, agus dualchas na Gàidhlig.

A warm welcome to you all to The 2025 Chesapeake Mòd, a celebration of Scottish Gaelic song, culture, and heritage.

Tha sibh air ur fiathachadh gu Mòd Chesapeake 2025!
You are invited to the 2025 Chesapeake Mòd!

~ And there are excting additions to the program this year! ~ 

REGISTER HERE!

Are you ready to immerse yourself in the rich culture of Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)? The Chesapeake Mòd will feature Gàidhlig language and song workshops for beginners and more advanced learners led by experienced instructors, as well as a friendly competition that you can watch or join in as a participant.

Whether you are attending as a competitor or a member of the audience, this is your chance to connect with fellow Gàidhlig enthusiasts, take your language skills to the next level, and hear some brilliant singers and storytellers. Don’t miss out on this unique and unforgettable experience!

Special Guest!

Ryan Johnston

Am-bliadhna, bidh e na urram dhuinn fàilte a chuir air Ryan Johnston, a bhuannaich bonn òir a’ Mhòid Nàiseanta Rìoghail 2024. Bidh Ryan còmhla rinn aig an Treas Mòd Bliadhnail Chespeake, le cead bho An Comunn Gàidhealach, ann an Alba.

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This year, we will have the honor to welcome Ryan Johnston, the 2024 Royal National Mòd Men’s gold medal winner. Ryan will join us at the Third Annual Chespeake Mòd, courtesy of An Comunn Gàidhealach, in Scotland.

New to the 2025 Mòd

This year, competitors may enter into any of four categories:

• Òrain Mòra / Great Songs
  This category encompasses the song types most commonly heard in a Mòd. They include ballads covering a wide range of experiences across the centuries.
• Port à beul / Mouth music
  Port à beul is a traditional form of song native to Scotland that sets Gaelic lyrics to instrumental tune melodies. They include rapid tongue-twisting singing. Historically, they were used to accompany dancing in the absence of instruments and to transmit instrumental tunes orally. The subjects of their lyrical content tends to be lighter than the subjects encountered in Òrain Mòra.
• Sgeulachdan / Storytelling
• Bàrdachd Ùr / Original poetry
  This is a non-performance category.  Competitors will submit their poems in advance, and awards will be given at the Mòd.

What to Expect

• At Mòd Chesapeake, you can learn Scottish Gaelic songs and stories and experience the performance of Gàidhlig song in the competition.  However, there is much more to the Mòd than workshops and competitions.
• We want to encourage people to learn Gàidhlig and use it in every part of their lives. Mòd Chesapeake is offering a special class, Competing at a Mòd: What to Expect, for anyone who has not been in a Mòd but wants to improve their Gàidhlig singing, and, perhaps, be in the next Mòd.
• Gàidhlig is all about community, and Mòd Chesapeake is an opportunity to be included in a very passionate, inspiring community of Gàidhlig learners at all levels, from the fluent to people who are just starting out. There’s a place for you here. You may see old friends, but you are certain to meet new ones.
• If you are a learner of Gàidhlig, Mòd Chesapeake is an opportunity to use the language in a community.
• Our guest, Ryan Johnston, will sing during the Mòd and teach two of the workshops.

The Schedule

9 am: Doors open – Check-in, get some coffee or tea, and meet everyone.
9:30 am: Welcoming and opening song

10 am to Noon: Morning Workshops

10 am:

• Introduction to Gàidhlig (beginners)
• Gàidhlig Conversation (intermediate/advanced)

11 am:

• Gàidhlig Songs: Gàidhlig song lyrics: pronunciation and interpretation
  Everyone will learn a couple songs that will be sung at the Song Sharing

Noon: Lunch (included)

1:30 pm – 3 pm: The Competition & Awards

Post Competition:

3:00 pm: ‘Let’s Waulk!” a waulking song class
4:00 pm: Gàidhlig Storytelling

Everyone is on their own for dinner. We will provide a list of area restaurants. Seeing old friends again? Made new friends? Why not go out to dinner together?
At 7 pm, we will re-gather at the school for a traditional cèilidh of sharing songs, music, poetry, and stories. Beverages and snacks will be available throughout.

Fees

General Admission: $25
Competitors: Additional $20
(See “Additional Competitor” information)

The admission fee includes all workshops, the competition, snacks, and lunch.

You may register and pay the admission fee online by clicking the Register Here button below, or by sending a check made out to Sgoil Gàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhòir to Sgoil Gàidhlig, 5158 Ilchester Road, Ellicott City, Maryland 21043. Competitors, click the Additional Competitor Information button for additional requirements.

Questions? Write to us at sgoilgaidhlig@gmail.com

• Register Here

  Our Adjudicators

  

  Scott MacIlleMhoire (Morrison)
  Sgoil Gàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhòir
  Co-founder, Vice President, Ceannard Sgoile (Head of School)

  

  Liam Ó Caiside (Cassidy)
  President, An Comunn Gàidhealach Ameireaganach
  Board of Trustees, Sgoil Gàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhòir
  Co-founder, Gàidhlig Photomac

What is a Mòd?

Originally the word Mòd referred to a court held by a Scottish Gaelic chief or lord for settling disputes over rent and other matters. Today it refers to a competition in Scottish Gaelic song, poetry, and prose. The first modern Royal National Mòd, the premier Gàidhlig cultural event in Scotland, was held in 1892 in the town of Oban.

The Royal National Mòd is a huge event that moves around Scotland each year, drawing thousands of people for a week of song, language, and music competitions. An Comunn Gàidhealach Ameireaganach —  American Scottish Gaelic Society (ACGA) established the U.S. National Mòd in 1988 along similar, if smaller, lines. ACGA built the U. S. National Mòd as a celebration of Scottish Gaelic language arts. These are arts that use the language as their medium: song, poetry, storytelling, writing, drama. At the Mòd, participants may compete for prizes and awards in several categories of Gàidhlig song, in reciting Gàidhlig poetry, and in storytelling in Gàidhlig. But many people attend for fun, friendship, and to share their interest in Scotland’s Gaelic culture.  ACGA also awards special prizes for original poetry and literature in Scottish Gaelic.

Mòd Chesapeake is one of the regional gatherings within the network of the ACGA and the U. S. National Mòd.

You may register and pay the admission fee online by clicking the Register Here button below, or by sending a check made out to Sgoil Gàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhòir to Sgoil Gàidhlig, 5158 Ilchester Road, Ellicott City, Maryland 21043.  Competitors, click the Additional Competitor Information button for further registration information.