Mod to feature Canadian flavour

The festival will be held in Falkirk next year for the first time

The Royal National Mod, which is due to be held in Falkirk next year, will feature a delegation from Nova Scotia.

Falkirk's Mod committee are using the event to try to develop closer ties between Scotland and Canada.

The committee attended last week's Mod festival in Fort William and held talks with the Nova Scotian Government's head of Gaelic Affairs Lewis MacKinnon.

Their aim is to ensure the Gaelic language, celebrated at the Mod, thrives on both sides of the Atlantic.

The 2008 event, which is an annual showcase for traditional music, poetry and song, is being held in Falkirk for the first time.

Convener of the festival's organising committee, Angus MacDonald, said: "This is an ideal opportunity to develop links with the area, particularly when there are so many exciting initiatives taking place in Nova Scotia to help the Gaelic language thrive.

"We had very positive talks with Lewis MacKinnon during our visit to Fort William, with a number of positive outcomes.

"It has been agreed that there will be a strong Nova Scotian presence at the Mod in Falkirk next year with a delegation of artists coming over for the full nine days of the festival."

The first Mod was held in Oban in 1892.