Iomain Cholmcille – Gaelic Shinty Project

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

Cupa Iomain na h-Òige – Youth Shinty Cup – is in its fourth 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.

The final took place on Friday September 13th.

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. Iomain Cholmcille presented the Cupa Iomain na h-Òige itself to the winners of the competition, and The Highland Council provided support for a trophy, Duais Ghàidhlig 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.

13 teams from urban and rural schools took part, ranging from Edinburgh’s Taobh na Pàirce in the east to Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh on the west coast, with teams also travelling from Glasgow, North and South Skye, Inverness and Dingwall.  After a competitive day’s play Dingwall Primary Gaelic Department’s Team A were victorious in the shinty competition with Bun-Sgoil Shlèite being presented with the Duais Ghàidhlig for commitment to the language.

Dingwall Primary Gaelic Department’s Team A were victorious in the shinty competition

Mr Eoghan Stewart, Co-ordinator of Iomain Cholmcille in Scotland said: “We were greatly inspired by the linguistic skills and shinty skills on show from all parts of Scotland. We are proud to be running this event in the capital of the Highlands and to showcase the benefits of Gaelic Medium Education, but also to highlight the pressing need for more Gaelic medium opportunities in sport, particularly out-with the curriculum in the community. We hope to see many of these youngsters graduate towards the Alba men’s and women’s team at our award-winning Iomain Cholmcille events in the years to come.”

Depute Provost and Leader of Inverness and Area  Cllr Graham Ross who presented the ‘Duais Ghàidhlig Iomain na h-Òige to Bun-Sgoil Shlèite, as well as the Highland Council medals and the Shinty Cup to Dingwall Primary Gaelic Department’s Team A said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to present the Duaisean – it’s an excellent event.  Cupa Iomain na h-Òige is gaining stature and is now an annual event in the schools’ calendar. Providing extra-curricular activities for young people to use their Gaelic skills with their peers from other schools enhances their linguistic abilities as the language is being used out-with the classroom.

“I also wish to take this opportunity to thank the Highland Council Gaelic Team, Bught Part Staff, for their support, and also Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Iomain Cholmcille for their financial support.”

Tha Iomain Cholmcille – am Pròiseact Iomain Gàidhlig – air a bhith ag obair ann an com-pàirteachas le Sgioba na Gàidhlig aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd gus tachartas iomain nàiseanta a chur air dòigh do sgoilearan P4–P7 ann am Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig ann an sgoiltean air feadh na h-Alba.

’S e seo a-nis an ceathramh bliadhna de Chupa Iomain na h-Òige agus ged a tha an fharpais – a tha air a cumail gu tur sa Ghàidhlig – stèidhichte sa Ghàidhealtachd, tha i fosgailte do sgoiltean bho air feadh na h-Alba.
Chaidh an fharpais dheireannach air Dihaoine an 13 den t-Sultain.

’S e pròiseact a th’ ann an Iomain Cholmcille a tha gu sònraichte a’ brosnachadh cleachdadh na Gàidhlig ann an saoghal na h-iomain agus bithear gu tric a’ cur iomlaidean eadar-nàiseanta air dòigh le sgiobaidhean Iomain Èireannach an dà chuid do dh’fhireannaich is do bhoireannaich.

Tha Cupa Iomain na h-Òige air taic fhaighinn bho Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Bòrd na Gàidhlig. Thug Iomain Cholmcille fhèin seachad Cupa Iomain na h-Òige do bhuannaichean na farpaise, agus thug Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd seachad taic airson geall-dùbhlain – Duais Ghàidhlig Iomain na h-Òige – a tha a’ dol chun na sgioba a b’ èasgaidh a thaobh a bhith a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig aig an tachartas. Chaidh buinn shònraichte a thoirt seachad do gach sgoilear a ghabh com-pàirt san tachartas.

Ghabh 13 sgioba bho sgoiltean bailteil is dùthchail com-pàirt agus iad a’ tighinn bho Thaobh na Pàirce ann an Dùn Èideann san ear agus Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh air a’ chost an iar, le sgiobaidhean cuideachd a’ siubhal à Glaschu, ceann a Tuath is a Deas an Eilein Sgitheanaich, Inbhir Nis agus Inbhir Pheofharain. Às dèidh farpais mhòr bhuannaich Sgioba A aig Roinn Ghàidhlig Bun-Sgoil Inbhir Pheofharain an fharpais iomain agus bhuannaich Bun-Sgoil Shlèite an Duais Ghàidhlig airson dealasachd dhan chànan.

Thuirt Mgr Eòghan Stiùbhart, Co-òrdanaiche Iomain Cholmcille ann an Alba: “Bha sinn air ar misneachadh gu mòr leis na sgilean cànain agus na sgilean iomain a bha air an taisbeanadh bho gach pàirt de dh’Alba. Tha sinn moiteil a bhith a’ ruith an tachartais seo ann am prìomh bhaile na Gàidhealtachd agus a bhith a’ toirt nam buannachdan a tha an lùib Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig gu aire. Tha seo cuideachd a’ toirt gu aire gu bheil cruaidh fheum air barrachd chothroman airson Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig ann an spòrs, gu h-àraid taobh a-muigh a’ churraicealaim anns a’ choimhearsnachd.

“Tha sinn an dòchas gun tèid mòran de na daoine òga seo air adhart gu sgiobaidhean fhear is bhan na h-Alba aig tachartasan cliùiteach Iomain Cholmcille sna bliadhnaichean ri teachd.”

Thuirt an t-Iar-Phròbhaist agus Iar-Cheannard Inbhir Nis agus an Sgìre an Comhairliche Graham Ros, a thug seachad Duais Ghàidhlig Iomain na h-Alba do Bhun-Sgoil Shlèite agus buinn Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Cupa na h-Iomain do Sgioba A aig Roinn Ghàidhlig Bun-Sgoil Inbhir Pheofharain: “Tha mi fìor thoilichte gu bheil cothrom agam na Duaisean a thoirt seachad aig sàr thachartas leithid seo. Tha cliù Cupa Iomain na h-Òige a’ sìor fhàs agus ’s e tachartas bliadhnail a th’ ann a-nis ann am mìosachan na sgoile. Tha a bhith a’ toirt chothroman neo-churraicealach do dhaoine òga gus an cuid sgilean Gàidhlig a chleachdadh len co-aoisean bho sgoiltean eile a’ neartachadh nan comasan cànain aca seach gu bheilear a’ cleachdadh a’ chànain taobh a-muigh a’ chlasa.

“Bu mhath leam cuideachd an cothrom seo a ghabhail gus taing a thoirt do Sgioba na Gàidhlig aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Luchd-obrach Pàirc a’ Bhucht airson an taic, agus cuideachd Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus Iomain Cholmcille airson an taic ionmhasail.”