BLAS OFF FOR LAUNCH OF MÒD FRINGE PROGRAMME

13th September 2010

The Blas Festival held at the Weigh Inn on Saturday 11th September was the venue for officially launching the Mòd Fringe programme.

Attending the event were representatives from the organisations who have supported the Local Organising Committee of the Mòd (LOC) through funding.

Randall Bargelt (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority), John Henderson (LEADER Highland) and Charles Findlay (Highlands & Islands Enterprise) met with Alex Patience and a number of the LOC Fringe committee members who have organised the different events organised for the week of the Royal National Mòd, 8th Oct - 16th Oct 2010.

The NDA provided £60,000 of funding with a further £40,000 coming from LEADER Highland. Highlands and Islands Enterprise are providing funding of £70,000 towards the overall event.

Alex Patience, Convenor of the Mòd Fringe said "Without the support of the Fringes' three main funders NDA, LEADER and HIE, putting together a full programme of exciting events would not have been possible. I am also happy to say the local community and smaller organisations have also given us crucial support. The support we have received has been amazing. The young people of Fèis Ghallaibh, who performed their first professional gig at Blas along with fabulous performers like Breabach and the James Graham Trio, helped spread the word that Caithness has a lot to celebrate about on it's doorstep."

Randall Bargelt, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority said "The NDA, as part of the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership, is delighted to have been able to support the local organising committee to put together a great programme for the week of the Mòd.

"We wanted to make sure that there is a lasting economic legacy from having this important national festival come to the county. The organisers' first success was attracting the National Mòd here in the first place. They have put together a great programme of events and are taking the opportunity to promote the local area to the Mòd visitors by showing them the best that Caithness has to offer, ensuring that they have a lasting memory of their visit.

"Caithness has spectacular natural resources, good local businesses and a vibrant community. A successful Mòd week will provide a unique opportunity to share the best of it and make sure the visitors spread the word about all the great things that Caithness has to offer."

John Henderson, Chairman of LEADER for the Caithness area agreed and added, "This was a perfect example of what LEADER can provide funding for. It allows the area to promote itself as a great holiday destination and hopefully by hosting the Mòd we will encourage more people to come back time and time again. The LEADER committee had no hesitation in approving the release of funding for this ambitious programme of events during the Mòd."

Charles Findlay, Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE), who are sponsoring An Comunn Gaidhealach and a creative display to link with Fringe activity, said "HIE is pleased to provide funding to An Comunn Gaidhealach to help bring the Royal National Mod to Caithness for the first time. HIE, not only looks at growing businesses, it also supports strengthening communities and this is a perfect example of that.

"HIE has recently produced a Gaelic plan and the Royal National Mod represents an opportunity to this area in terms of both community and economic development. The local organisation committee should be congratulated on the amount of work that each individual involved has put into the organisation of the Mod and also to the fringe events. We can look forward to a very successful week."

Convenor of the LOC, Raymond Bremner, was in attendance at the Mull Provincial Mòd, at the same time as the launch in Caithness, where the programme was released at one of the biggest local Mòd attendances in the run-up to the National Event in Caithness. He said "The Mull Mòd, being one of the forward thinking local Mòds, was a perfect event to launch the Caithness Mòd Fringe Programme. There was a real buzz at the Mull Mòd with people highly delighted to receive the programme in good time to allow them to assist in forward planning their visit to the county next month. With the BBC and other media in attendance we attracted some very welcome attention. We have a lot to thank the Fringe organisers for, and I hope that locals and visitors will take part in as many of the events as possible."

The Fringe programme will be distributed nationally and locally over the next few weeks or can be found on the Mòd website at www.caithnessMòd2010.co.uk