The 2023 edition of The Royal National Mòd drew to a triumphant close on Saturday, with musical voices from across the country joining together in Paisley, marking the end of the nine-day event.
The Massed Choirs performance saw choirs who competed last week gather to sing in joyful unison outside Paisley Town Hall, along with some members of Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band.
The Mòd flag was then handed over to Oban, who will host the 2024 edition of the prestigious Gaelic festival organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach.
Spanning over 20 venues throughout the Renfrewshire town from October 13 to October 21, the event saw approximately 8,000 visitors gather in Paisley, and is estimated that it will have generated an excess of £2million for the local economy.
Attendees from Harris to New Zealand descended on the town to watch as the 2,000 participants competed in over 200 competitions.
The festival showcased a diverse programme of exciting live concerts and fringe events, with highlights including the Our Language Our Music Concert, which showcased the best of traditional music and Gaelic culture with talent from Renfrewshire and beyond.
James Graham, chief executive officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: "We are absolutely thrilled with the success of this year's Mòd in Paisley. The vibrant atmosphere, rich displays of Gaelic language and culture, and the warm hospitality of Paisley's community have truly made this year's event exceptional.
"Our heartfelt thanks go out to all the dedicated attendees and volunteers who have contributed to this Mòd's triumph. A special thanks must also go out to Renfrewshire Council, who have been a huge support to us this year. We must also give special mention to our participants and competitors, without whom the Mòd could not exist. Well done to everyone who has taken part this year; the standard has been incredibly high and a privilege to see."
Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron added: "It's been a real privilege to welcome the Royal National Mòd back to Paisley this year to celebrate the amazing Gaelic language, music and culture.
"It was wonderful to see the town so full of energy with thousands of people looking to experience everything the Mòd has to offer. The jam-packed festival programme had something for everyone whether you were a veteran of the Mòd or had never experienced it before.
"I was particularly proud to see the whole community get involved from our local business owners learning Gaelic phrases to welcome people, our school pupils participating in shinty taster sessions and the fantastic volunteers who signed up to support the festival and give visitors a proper Paisley welcome.
"The event has been a great success for the town in terms of showcasing our fantastic venues, including our newly refurbished Paisley Town Hall, and the warm welcome visitors to the area can expect when they come to Renfrewshire."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here