Daily programmes will be broadcast as-live from this year’s Royal National Mòd as it returns to the Western Isles for the fifth time in its history.

The Mòd, organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach, is the Gaelic community’s most prestigious festival celebrating cultural heritage, Gaelic language, music and arts.

Produced by BBC Gàidhlig and presented by highly acclaimed singer and musician Mary Ann Kennedy, BBC ALBA will be broadcasting five programmes showcasing daily highlights from the festival from Monday 17 to Friday 21 October.

Together with Radio nan Gàidheal, BBC ALBA will bring viewers and listeners all the news as well as comprehensive coverage of the major competitions and events throughout the festival on television, radio and online, and for the first time this year, television coverage will include the Traditional Gold Medal competitions.

The BBC ALBA programmes include:

· Monday 17th, 8.30pm – 10pm: Mary Ann Kennedy presents some of the winning performances from the main stage in Stornoway on the first day of the children’s Mòd.

· Tuesday 18th, 8.30pm – 10pm: The programme will feature some of the prize-winners from the second day of events at the Children’s Mod taking place in the Western Isles.

· Wednesday 19th, 9.00pm – 10pm: Coverage of a Mòd fringe ceilidh in Stornoway featuring performances from some of the day’s competition winners.

· Thursday 20th, 8.30pm – 10.00pm: Mary Ann Kennedy presents coverage of the traditional Gold Medal competition for singing.

· Friday 21st, 8.30pm – 10.00pm: Coverage of the main Choral winners of the day will feature from the final prize-winners’ concert.

One of the most popular events at the Mòd each year is the Mire ri Mòir cèilidh, which will again be broadcast live on Friday 21 October at 10am on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and will come this year from the Caberfeidh Hotel.

Mòd 2011 programming will also cater for younger viewers and listeners as the teams from Radio nan Gàidheal’s popular children’s programme ‘Aileag’ (Friday 21 at 5.30pm) and BBC ALBA’s Dè a-nis? (Wednesday 19 at 6.00pm) visit Stornoway.

Source: BBC Alba