The society is closely associated with the Royal National Mòd.

It was founded in Oban in 1891 to help preserve and develop the Gaelic language and to establish the Royal National Mòd (Scottish Gaelic: Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail), a festival[1] of Gaelic music, arts and culture modelled originally on the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

[2] From 1905 to 1922 An Comunn Gàidhealach published a monthly magazine titled an Deo-Grèine.

[3] This was replaced in 1923 by An Gaidheal (literally "The Gael") which ran until 1967,[4] when it was continued by the bilingual newspaper Sruth until 1970.

[6] Its offices are in Inverness and Stornoway and its Patron is King Charles III.