Arrangements are well in hand for the main event as well as a vibrant Fringe, Iomall a Mhòid. The kind of things we are working on are: bringing 28 items from An Leabhar Mòr to display at the West Highland Museum; a series of lunchtime lectures on place-names, Nova Scotia links, Lochaber life-styles and Sgeulachdan Lochabair; a mid-week piping lecture and recital, supported by an exhibition from the Piping College; poetry readings – ‘Biadh is Bardachd’; and street performances.

We will be providing a courtesy bus from the West End Car Park to Lochaber High School and Caol Community Centre. Most daytime competitions will take place at Lochaber High School at the start of the week, with a fair number at Lochyside School. Because of the very limited parking at Lochyside, there will be a ‘park and ride’ scheme between Lochaber High and Lochyside schools.

Along with the day conference on Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair in Glenfinnan on 14 October, there will be talks on his work on Monday and Tuesday.

There will be a talk on ‘Recent Excavations at Inverlochy Castle and Fort William’ by Tony Pollard (one of the ‘Two Men in a Trench’), to report on work that will be taking place in September.

There will be a focus on traditional music with a daily spot on the Parade and the Traditional Music Hall of Fame on display in the town. As well as the formal Mod folk group competition there will be a more relaxed ‘Urlar Fosgailte!’ on Wednesday evening, with entries on the day. Apart from keyboards, all instruments will be acoustic.

Lochaber High School will be the focus for a workshop on Cape Breton songs, Gaelic classes and step dancing classes – for all ages!

At the Rural Complex you can visit the crofting museum and a model boats exhibition, with emphasis on island crafts, such as ‘The Vital Spark’, ‘The SS Politician’ and the ‘Zulu’.

We are presently examining the possibility of a Parade and Massed Choirs event for junior choirs on the Wednesday morning, on the lines of the successful adult event on the last Saturday.

The first Saturday is expected to involve a shinty/hurling international as well as the traditional Mod Cup, to be a East versus West amalgum of Lochaber shinty teams!

To encourage an exchange of views on a topical item, there will be a bilingual forum on ‘The Future of the Mod’. We do hope you attend this!

But it won’t all be serious and the big event will be ‘Deiseil? Air do shocair! Còcairich!’ – yes, a Gaelic ‘Ready, Steady, Cook!’ with some familiar names displaying new skills!

The Lochaber Area Committee of the Highland Council has donated a Cuach to be awarded to the best article, in prose or poetry, by pupils from the area in which the Mod is held, in any one year. Details through the schools.

The Fringe Programme will be ready in early October. There will be plenty to do at Mòd Lochabair, befitting the Year of Highland Culture 2007!

Finally, our plea – An Comunn members received two books of raffle tickets to sell in the February mailing. We desperately need the counterfoils back, together with the money!