Camanachd na h-Alba ga chur air chois aig Pàirc nan Laoch, Port Rìgh
Tha Iomain Cholmcille air leth toilichte pròiseact ùr Camanachd na h-Alba ainmeachadh a bhrosnaicheas a’ Ghàidhlig air feadh saoghal na camanachd agus a tha air maoineachadh fhaighinn bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig.
Bidh am pròiseact seo a’ ruith gu deireadh 2026 agus a bharrachd air na farpaisean soirbheachail Cupa Iomain na h-Òige airson clann bun-sgoile tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig, bidh Camanachd na h-Alba a’ cumail farsaingeachd de ghnìomhan a’ gabhail a-steach campaichean trèanaidh tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig, seiseanan cuimhneachaidh iomain do luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig agus clasaichean ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig do bhuill Comann na Camanachd. ’S e an t-amas gum bi còrr is mìle cluicheadair iomain an-sàs gach bliadhna.
Thèid Camanachd na h-Alba a chur air bhog aig a’ chiad Cupa Iomain na h-Oige de 2024 aig Pàirc nan Laoch aig Camanachd an Eilein Sgitheanaich ann am Port Rìgh, àite le dìleab mhòr Ghàidhlig.
Tha Camanachd an Eilein Sgitheanaich air aontachadh taic a thoirt do Chamanachd na h-Alba le bhith ag obair còmhla ri Iomain Cholmcille airson seiseanan Cuimhneachain na Camanachd, cearcall còmhraidh Gàidhlig do chluicheadairean iomain, a bharrachd air a bhith ag amas air ball den chomataidh aca le uallach sònraichte airson na Gàidhlig.
Tha Iomain Cholmcille air na cothroman a th’ aig Camanachd na h-Alba a chleachdadh gus com-pàirteachadh le Urras an Eileingus cupa ùr Cupa Iomain na h-Oige a chur air dòigh don Eilean Sgitheanach is Loch Aillse. Tha Urras an Eilein air iarraidh gun tèid an duais seo a thoirt seachad mar chuimhneachan air D.R. MacDhòmhnaill. Bha D.R. ainmeil ann an saoghal na camanachd agus na Gàidhlig, agus dh’obraich e fad a bheatha leis an fheallsanachd gun robh an dà r
A bharrachd air sin, tha an com-pàirteachas seo cuideachd a’ cur air dòigh Duais na Gàidhlig le Urras an Eilein – Iomain Cholmcille a bhios air a toirt seachad le Camanachd an Eilein Sgitheanaich gach bliadhna don neach a tha air Gàidhlig a bhrosnachadh as motha san Eilean Sgitheanach tro iomain.
Chan eil anns a’ cho-bhanntachd le Camanachd an Eilein Sgitheanaich ach aon de ghrunn chom-pàirteachasan ionadail a neartaicheas cleachdadh na Gàidhlig ann an iomain, agus tha Iomain Cholmcille air am pròiseas a thòiseachadh gus a bhith na chomann le ballrachd làn de Chomann na Camanachd, gus an obair aca a dhaingneachadh.
Thuirt neach-labhairt airson Iomain Cholmcille “Tha sinn fada an comain ar com-pàirtichean uile, a’ gabhail a-steach Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, a tha a’ toirt taic do na cuairtean stèidhichte air a’ Ghàidhealtachd de Chupa Iomain na h-Òige, ach tha sinn air leth taingeil do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig airson an taic a thug iad do Iomain Cholmcille. and Camanachd na h-Alba. Tha na cothroman a bheir camanachd don Ghàidhlig, agus a’ Ghàidhlig don chamanachd, cho mòr. Le bhith na bhall de Chomann na Camanachd, nì Iomain Cholmcille cinnteach gum bi guth nan Gàidheal ann an spòrs nan Gàidheal.”
“Tha deagh phrògram againn de thachartasan òigridh an amharc, le farpais an t-seachdain seo is an ath sheachdain anns an Eilean Sgitheanach, Srath Pheofhair agus Drochaid an Easbuig. Tha e air leth math a bhith ann am Port Rìgh a’ cuimhneachadh air D.R. MacDhòmhnaill leis a’ chupa ùr, agus a’ cur taic ris an iomairt aig Camanachd an Eilein airson Dònaidh Màrtainn a chuimhneachadh le bhith a’ togail faradh na chuimhne. Dithis shàr-Ghàidheil a bhrosnaich an cànan agus an caman còmhla.”
Thuirt Cathraiche Chamanachd an Eilein, Tòmas MacUilleim, “Tha e na urram do Chamanachd an Eilein taic a chumail ris a’ phròiseact ùr aig Iomain Cholmcille, Camanachd na h-Alba. Bha na laoich nach maireann, D.R. MacDhòmhnaill agus Dònaidh Màrtainn, nan Gàidheil gu an smior, agus nan gaisgich iomain agus Ghàidhlig. Bha an obair aca le Camanachd an Eilein a’ cur gu mòr ris a’ bhun-stèidh làidir a tha a’ toirt soirbheachas dhuinn latha an-diugh. Tha iomadh neach-labhairt na Gàidhlig aig Camanachd an Eilein Sgitheanaich, agus bidh e na phrìomhachas dhuinn san àm ri teachd cultar nan Gàidheal a thoirt air adhart.”
Camanachd na h-Alba project launched in Portree, aims to promote Gaelic through shinty
Iomain Cholmcille is delighted to announce its new project Camanachd na h-Alba which will promote Gaelic throughout the world of shinty and has received funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
This project will run until the end of 2026 and in addition to the successful Cupa Iomain na h-Òige competitions for Gaelic-medium primary children, Camanachd na h-Alba will see a range of activities including Gaelic-medium training camps, shinty memories sessions for Gaelic speakers and Gaelic learning classes for members of the Camanachd Association. The aim is to engage over 1000 shinty players with Gaelic per year.
Camanachd na h-Alba will be launched at the first Cupa Iomain na h-Oige of 2024 at Skye Camanachd’s Pàirc nan Laoch in Portree, a place with a great Gaelic legacy.
Skye Camanachd have agreed to support Camanachd na h-Alba by partnering for Shinty Memories sessions, a Gaelic conversation circle for shinty players, as well as aiming to have a member of their committee with specific responsibility for Gaelic.
Iomain Cholmcille have used the opportunities of Camanachd na h-Alba to partner with Urras an Eilein (the Skye Gaelic Trust) to commission a new Cupa Iomain na h-Oige trophy for Skye and Lochalsh. Urras an Eilein have asked that this trophy be presented in memory of the late D.R. Macdonald. D.R. was a legendary figure in both worlds of shinty and Gaelic.
In addition, this partnership also sees the creation of a new Urras an Eilein – Iomain Cholmcille Duais na Gàidhlig that will be presented by Skye Camanachd on an annual basis to the person who has promoted Gaelic in Skye through shinty the most.
The partnership with Skye Camanachd is only one of several local partnerships that will strengthen the use of Gaelic in shinty, and Iomain Cholmcille has begun the process of becoming a fully fledged member association of the Camanachd Association, in order to embed its work over the last 15 years.
A spokesperson for Iomain Cholmcille said “We are very grateful to all our partners, including Highland Council, who support all the Highland based rounds of Cupa Iomain na h-Òige, but we are especially grateful to Bòrd na Gàidhlig for their support of Iomain Cholmcille and Camanachd na h-Alba. The potential shinty provides to support Gaelic, and vice versa, is immense. Iomain Cholmcille becoming a member association of the Camanachd Association will ensure the voice of the Gael in the sport of the Gael.”
“We are starting off with a great programme of youth events this week and next in Skye, Strathpeffer and Bishopbriggs. It is very good to start of in Portree, where we will remember D.R. Macdonald with the new trophy, and also show our support for Skye Camanachd’s efforts to build a stand in memory of Donnie Martin. Two great Gaels who encouraged shinty and their language in tandem.”
Skye Camanachd Chair, Thomas Wilson said, “Skye Camanachd are honoured to support Iomain Cholmcille with its new project, Camanachd na h-Alba. The late great D.R. MacDonald and Donnie Martin, both native Gaelic speakers, were great champions of the Gaelic language and Shinty. Their work with Skye Camanachd is part of the reason we enjoy the success we have today at the club. Skye Camanachd have many Gaelic speakers within the club and driving our culture of the Gaelsforward will be a priority in the coming years.”
