A programme of pipe band competitions has been unveiled ahead of Paisley hosting the Royal National Mòd later this year.
The event will bring the rich sounds of Scotland's beloved national instrument to the town with senior and junior piping competitions.
The Royal National Mòd, which is Scotland's premier celebration of Gaelic culture and heritage, will run from Friday, October 13 to Saturday, October 21.
Organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach, the senior piping competitions will be held on Saturday, October 14 in the newly refurbished Paisley Town Hall.
The Competing Pipers Association are managing entries for the senior contest, with entries set to close on Friday, August 25. Entries can be submitted now by emailing secretary@competingpipers.com.
The senior event will feature A & Premier and B Grade competitions, both of which will have a Pìobaireachd, and March, Strathspey and Reel event and will require the standard four tunes for each competition.
Royal National Mòd junior piping competitions will also take place on Saturday, October 14 at The Wynd Centre, Paisley. Entries for junior competitions have now closed.
An Comunn Gàidhealach is also working in partnership with The Army School of Piping and Highland Drumming, based at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh, who will organise and manage the running of the competitions on the day.
James Graham, chief executive officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: "It is fantastic to once again be partnering with both The Competing Pipers Association and The Army School of Piping and Highland Drumming for this year’s Royal National Mòd piping events. Collaborative efforts such as these help to elevate our competitions to new levels, increasing their prestige and significance within the genre.
"The central belt has recently experienced a fantastic couple of weeks of piping, with the Piping Live! festival and the World Pipe Band Championship taking place in Glasgow. We are looking forward to maintaining this passion and enthusiasm for Scotland’s national instrument as we gather in Paisley for the Mòd 2023 piping events.
"I have every confidence that this year's contests will draw outstanding junior and senior pipers and ignite inspiration in countless others to come."
For senior competitors, entries should be made by emailing secretary@competingpipers.com.
Entries close Friday, August 25. For more information regarding the contest, contact The Competing Pipers Association secretary by emailing cpa_sec@yahoo.co.uk.
For full details on the Mòd 2023, visit www.ancomunn.co.uk and www.modphaislig.com.
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