A bid has been launched to bring the Royal National Mod back to Perth for the first time since 2004.
The Mod is Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival of music, arts, language and culture and the hope is that it could return to the city in 2019.
Staged in Inverness in 2014, it attracted more than 9,000 visitors, many of whom had never visited the city before, and generated more than £3.5 million in economic benefits. It is expected that Perth could reap similar benefits.
The Perth Gaelic Society, one of the most historic Gaelic societies in Scotland, has been working closely with Perth and Kinross Council and Horsecross Arts to develop a winning bid for Perth.
Perth last hosted the Mod in 2004 when 6,000 visitors were drawn to the city. With new venues having opened since then and with the recent experience of major events like the 2014 Ryder Cup it is hoped numbers may exceed this if the Mod returns in October 2019.
Councillor Ian Miller, convener of the council’s strategic policy and resources committee, which will discuss the bid tomorrow said: “The staging of the Mod brings a real ‘buzz’ to the host city with visitors travelling from all over.
“Our recent experience of hosting major events proves that Perth and Kinross would give the Mod a warm welcome.”