PAISLEY is gearing up for a nine-day £2.5million cultural festival which is expected to bring more than 8000 visitors to the town.

The Royal National Mòd - Scotland's annual Gaelic festival - will showcase Gaelic language and culture through music, dance, drama, art and literature.

The event will run from October 11 to 19.

John Morrison, chief executive of the Mod's organisers, An Comunn Gàidhealach, says the competitive and cultural highlights will bring a buzz to the town.

He said: "It will bring a tremendous feeling to Paisley.

"The opening ceremony will be quite an event itself, with a torch-lit procession from the museum to the Town Hall.

"It's going to fill the entire town, bring a buzz, fill restaurants and hotels.

"The local organising committee have organised singers and accordion players to go into local pubs.

"It's going to bring a substantial economic benefit to the area. Our assessment from the last three or four Mòds tell us it gives a boost of about £2.5m to the local area, so it's a pretty important boost.

"We consistently bring between 7500 and 8500 people, including about 3000 competitors.

"It's also going to bring Gaelic right into the community here in Paisley."

The Mòd is held every year, and switches location each time.

This is the first time in its 121 year history it has been staged in Paisley.

The town has a significant Gaelic heritage, and Mr Morrison said it is important that is recognised.

He added: "A lot of people think Paisley doesn't have a Gaelic heritage, which is completely wrong.

"A great many Highlanders and Gaelic speakers came to Paisley find work.

"There's a Gaelic chapel in Paisley, a Gaelic cemetery, at one stage there was even a shinty team.

"Paisley has a Gaelic heritage and we'd like to recover that.

"We want to leave a legacy."

Thousands of visitors will have the chance to experience the newly- revamped town hall when the venue will host performances.

Following its £482,000 upgrade, with funding from Historic Scotland, visitors will also be able to use a new tourism information point located within the reception area.

For more information on the events and competitions log on to hwww.modphaislig.org

ewan.fergus@ eveningtimes.co.uk