When and where is Gaelic’s biggest event taking place?

Over the next nine days, the Royal National Mòd is taking place in the west Highlands.

The event will bring together competitors and visitors for what is described as the world’s largest event celebrating Gaelic language and culture.

The Mòd has held competitions for traditional music, song, literature, drama and Highland dancing over the last 133 years.

The event is staged in a different Scottish town or city each year and draws competitors from Gaelic communities from across the UK and the rest of the world.

Inverness, Oban, Perth and Paisley are among the places to have hosted the Mòd.

Organiser, An Comunn Gàidhealach (The Highland Association), was founded in Oban in 1891.

Gold medals for singing are among the event’s most coveted prizes.

Last year, more than 70 gold medallists gathered in Glasgow for a celebration of Gaelic songs, with the oldest of the singers in their 80s.

This year’s Mòd has been dubbed Lochaber 2025 and competitions will take place at venues in and around Fort William.

Bagpipers will compete in the town’s Lochaber High School, and accordion players in Caol Community Centre.

Singers will gather at the Nevis Centre and local churches, while The Highland Cinema hosts poetry recitals.

A full list of competition venues is available online.

There are also competitions for choirs, Highland dancing and art.

The Mòd is on until Saturday 18 October.

It is the ninth time the event has visited Lochaber. The first time it was held there was in 1922.

Concerts, exhibitions, music sessions, processions, street cèilidhs and sport are all on planned says An Comunn Gàidhealach.

Other activities will include book launches and food and drink tastings.

There will be performances by Ewen Henderson of the band Mànran, Gaelic singer Rachel Walker and master pipers Allan MacDonald and Angus Nicolson.

Highland Council has offered a discounted parking season ticket for use in its seven public car parks in Fort William during the Mòd.

The local authority said the £11 season tickets should be bought from: www.myringgo.co.uk.

Local company Shiel Buses is also offering performers and audiences a shuttle service around Fort William.