THE ROYAL National Mod will get fully under way in the Western Isles today.

Gaeldom’s great gathering is expected to attract at least 10,000 people to the Western Isles giving an off-season boost to the economy.

Accommodation is at a premium and Caledonian MacBrayne, one of the main sponsors, will also be in for a busy time.

The first National Mod was held in Oban in 1893 and this year’s Mod is the 102nd.

While the number of Gaelic speakers has been in the spotlight recently there seems little shortage of enthusiasm for the event.

Competition begins today with piping in the Uists and fiddlers and accordionists in Stornoway.