Returning to Oban, where the first ever event was held in 1892, The Royal National Mòd will once again ignite the Gaelic torch for audiences and participants alike. Whether it’s traditional music, song, drama, literature, art or sport, with hundreds of musicians and artists set to bring talents to Argyll venues during the nine-day event. If you’re a book lover, check out the literature showcase on Thursday 16 including the crowning of a brand new An Comunn Gàidhealach Bàrd, followed by an event with Irish poet Anton Floyd. Translators and readers of his oeuvre, Críostóir de Piondargás and Dafydd Owen, working in Gaelic, Irish and Welsh, will also be in attendance. Floyd and friends will be fresh from a workshop and reading at St Andrew’s University (Tuesday 8). 

With the Corran Halls serving as primary venue for the Mòd, Obanites will welcome performances from Mànran (Friday 11), and Trail West (Saturday 19), and the return of the well-loved Ar Cànan is Ar Ceòl concert featuring Alasdair Whyte and local school children (Saturday 12). There will also be an exhibition, curated by cousins Mary Ann Kennedy and Priscilla Scott, celebrating the Queen Of Scottish Song Jessie MacLachlan, the first voice in Gaelic to ever be recorded for gramophone in 1899.

But if attending the Mòd isn’t a possibility, there’s plenty going on across Scotland. In Edinburgh, embark on a Gaelic nature walk in Holyrood Park (Thursday 10), then, head up the east coast to Dundee for Tea And Tunes, the lunchtime Gaelic concert series. This time, it’s Calum McIlroy (mandolin, guitar) and Niamh MacKaveney (violin), two of Scotland’s finest emerging traditional artists (main picture), who will be at Marryat Hall (Wednesday 16). Then loop back to the National Library Of Scotland to see Queen Of Irish Storytelling Eilís Ní Dhuibhne (writer and translator of Peig Sayers) as she explores her work’s interaction between the folkloric and the contemporary (Wednesday 23).

Further afield, there’s a Gaelic landscape walk at Kilmory, through the woodland and farmland of Arran (Friday 18). Landscape is also in focus at Contour’s Glencoe Mountain Resort, with a guided mountain hike led by local guide Ross Christie (Saturday 5). In Glasgow’s Civic House, there’s a Baile/Baile mash-up, with a lavish line-up of DJs, live acts, a soundscaped exhibition and an interactive Gaelic lesson with Catrìona NicNeacail (Friday 4). In Edinburgh, Gaelic interweaves with Polari through poetry and song as Queer Folks’ Tales (Thursday 10) returns to the Scottish Storytelling Centre, curated by Turan Ali. See you there, for some bona lavs.