Caledonian MacBrayne, main commercial supporters of this year’s historic Royal National Mod, will launch a special “Ceilidh to Craignure” as one of the highlights of this year’s event.

The 2003 Royal National Mod – the 100^th National Mod – which begins in its birthplace of Oban next Friday, is set to be the biggest in living memory. And the Programme for the Mod, launched today at CalMac’s Support Services Headquarters in Gourock, is the biggest yet. Over 2000 competition entries have been received from throughout Scotland, the UK, Canada, Germany and Australia and it is expected that the event will break several records.

Launching the Mod Programme earlier today, along with Murdo Morrison of An Comunn Gaidhealach, Hugh Dan MacLennan, CalMac’s Public Affairs Manager said: “We are obviously delighted to be associated with this historic event. The connection between the company and the Gaelic community which will gather in Oban from all over the country, and further afield, is obvious. As part of our activities in Oban during the Mod, we will be offering a buffet “Ceilidh to Craignure” sailing on the Wednesday evening of Mod week, on MV Isle of Mull, departing Oban at 2000 and returning to Oban for 2215 – in plenty of time to carry on carousing for the later part of the evening.”

Tickets for the “Ceilidh to Craignure” are available from CalMac’s Oban office.  Copies of the 280-page Mod Programme are available, priced £5 per copy, from An Comunn Gaidhealach, the Mod Exhibition Centre in Oban, and the Gaelic Books Council in Glasgow.

Caledonian MacBrayne also took delivery today of a special mural completed by former employee Hector MacDonald of Inverness, which features 30 ships and other sea-going activities related to the Oban area. This will be on display in Oban during Mod week at a venue still to be confirmed.

Mod 2003 will open in Oban on Friday 10^th October and will come to a close with the Massed Choirs performance on the morning of Saturday 18^th October.

Ends

For further information on the contents of this News Release, please contact Hugh Dan MacLennan, Public Affairs Manager, Caledonian MacBrayne.

Tel: 0776 435 4021; e-mail hugh.maclennan@calmac.co.uk or Murdo Morrison, Mod Promotion Manager Tel: 01463 709705.

Issued:  Friday, October 2, 2003