Highland schools come out top at Shinty@the Bught

More photos available on flicker here

Read a Gaelic version of this news release here

Iomain Cholmcille – the Gaelic Shinty Project – has worked in partnership with The Highland Council’s Gaelic Team to organise a six aside national Shinty event for P4 to P7 Gaelic Medium pupils from schools across Scotland.

In August Iomain Cholmchille announced funding of £8000, from Bord na Gàidhlig in order to help develop the use of Gaelic in youth Shinty. The project was launched at Bun- Sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh and pupils were presented with new Gaelic strips for the school Shinty team. The funding for community projects aims to build on Iomain Cholmcille’s successful work, in partnership with the Highland Council’s Gaelic Team running Cupa Iomain na h-Òige.

Cupa Iomain na h-Òige – Youth Shinty Cup - is in its third year and although based in the Highlands, the competition, which is held entirely through the medium of Gaelic, is open to schools from across Scotland. This year the competition took place at the Bught Park in Inverness which is a national stadium and 14 teams have entered with approximately 100 pupils participating in the event.

Schools from across Scotland entered which include Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dingwall, this is the first time that the smaller schools in Skye have taken part.

Iomain Cholmcille is a project dedicated to encouraging the use of Gaelic in the Shinty world and regularly organises international exchanges with Irish-speaking hurling teams for both men and women.

Cupa Iomain na h-Òige has received support from the Highland Council and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

The final took place at the end of the week (Friday 28 Sept) at the Bught Park, in Inverness.

Mr Murdo Morrsion from Bòrd na Gàidhlig presented the Cupa Iomain na h-Òige itself to Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh (Portree Gaelic School) who were the winners of the competition. The Highland Council provided support for a trophy cup, Duais Gàidhlig Iomain na h-Òige - Youth Shinty Gaelic Award – which goes to the team most committed to using the language at the event, as well as special medals which were presented to each participant who took part in the event. This year the Cup was presented to Dingwall Primary Gaelic Medium Unit

Mr Eoghan Stewart, Co-ordinator in Scotland of Iomain Cholmcille in Scotland said: “Once again Iomain Cholmcille are delighted to be working in partnership with The Highland Council in organising, Cupa Iomain na h-Òige. The Competition is developing, it’s great to see new teams participating and it’s fantastic that schools are supporting Gaelic in conjunction with traditional sports such as Shinty.”

He continued, “I’d like to thank Inverness Shinty Club for support, in terms of providing equipment and to Mr Al Hunter and Mr Colm O’ Rua regarding secondary pupils participating in refereeing. Iomain Cholmchille also value the support they receive from the Highland Council Gaelic Team.”Councillor Alister Mackinnon, Chair of the Gaelic Strategy Implementation Group who presented the ‘Cupa Gàidhlig Iomain na h-Òige to Dingwall Primary Gaelic Medium Unit said: “I’m delighted to have presented the Cup to the Team who were most committed to language use whilst participating at this excellent event. Cupa Iomain na h-Òige is only in its third year, and the number of teams participating is increasing. I believe extra-curricular activities especially relating to sport provides an ideal chance for the young people to use their Gaelic skills with their peers from other schools. The language is being used out-with the classroom and the young people are combining their linguistic, sporting and social skills which will benefit them to reach their full potential”.