Peairt Gu Bràth! Shinty returns to Perth thanks to Royal National Mòd.

Shinty returns to Perth for the first time in a decade with the Mòd Cups being held on Saturday 15^th October at the North Inch as part of the Royal National Mòd.

Tayforth Shinty Club were established in 1973 and were based in Perth for the first 40 years of their existence. During this time the club drew upon Highlanders and Irish living in the area, but also encouraged several locals to get involved with many tales and adventures, and no lack of success. However, since the early 2010s they have played in Edinburgh. Whilst this “homecoming” may only be temporary, it is hoped that the shinty action on Saturday helps ignite an interest in the sport in Perthshire again.

It’s also been 110 years since the Camanachd Cup Final was last held in Perth, Ballachulish beating Newtonmore 4-2. Perth hosted four finals between 1899 and 1912 so the City has a strong history of the Game of the Gael and the return of the sport is a milestone for the sport in the area.

Tayforth have a long history with the Mòd Cup as well, lifting the Men’s Aviemore Trophy on four separate occasions in 1980, 1986, 1996 and 2004 when the Mòd was last held in the Fair City. A win will see them become the first club to win the trophy, always played by two sides from near the Mòd venue, five times. The trophy was first competed for by giants Newtonmore and Kingussie at the Aviemore Mòd in 1969 and remains the only trophy that Kingussie have never won!

Tayforth will face off in both the men’s and women’s competitions against Aberdour, the Fife based club who began their own story in 2001. Despite only being a club for over 20 years the Dour have recently eclipsed their rivals from the other side of the Firth and will be entering their reserve team into the competition as their first team are involved in National Division action.

Aberdour have never competed for the Mòd Cup, having been scheduled to play the 2008 Falkirk Mòd final in Grangemouth which was cancelled due to inclement weather. Aberdour reserves play the league below Tayforth, so although the Edinburgh side will be stronger it should be a close, competitive match.

It will also be the final refereeing performance by stalwart Henry MacInnes. The inspiration for Fergie Macdonald’s track The Shinty Refereehas officiated several Mòd Cup matches over the years but will be hanging up his whistle for good after the men’s match.

The LearnGaelic Trophy will be competed for by the women’s teams of both clubs. The Mòd Cup is one of the few trophies in the Women’s code which is played for on a 12 a-side basis. Aberdour are the team higher in the rankings, playing a league above Tayforth, but again it should be a hard-fought, entertaining spectacle.

All the events are being supported by An Comunn Gàidhealach, Perth and Kinross Council, Live Active, Iomain Cholmcille and the Camanachd Association.

There will be a youth competition and a come and try session for youngsters as well in the morning before the matches. It is hoped that this event will help encourage the formation of a new shinty team for Perthshire playing at both youth and adult level in the coming years.

Anybody interested in supporting shinty in Perthshire and the surrounding areas should contact Alison Thompson, Camanachd Association Development Officer atalison.thompson@shinty.com or on 07921210179

Peairt Gu Bràth – Spòrs nan Gàidheal a’ tilleadh gu Peairt ri linn a’ Mhòid Nàiseanta Rìoghail

Tha iomain a’ tilleadh a Pheairt airson a’ chiad uair ann an deich bliadhna le Cupannan a’ Mhòid gan cumail Disathairne 15 An Damhair aig Innis a Tuath mar phàirt den Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail.

Chaidh Comann Camanachd Tatha is For a stèidheachadh ann an 1973 agus bha iad stèidhichte ann am Peairt airson a’ chiad 40 bliadhna. Tron linn sin tharraing iad bho Ghàidheil à Alba is Èirinn a’ fuireach san sgìre, ach cuideachd bhrosnaich iad cuid bhon sgìre a dhol an-sàs le iomadh sgeulachd is spòrs agus soirbheachas nach robh beag! Ge-tà, o thràth sna 2010an tha iad air cluich ann an Dùn Èideann. Ged nach eil an “tilleadh dhachaigh” seo ach sealach, thathar an dòchas gum bi an cluiche iomain Disathairne a’ brosnachadh ùidh san spòrs ann an Siorrachd Pheairt uair eile.

Tha e cuideachd 110 bliadhna on a chaidh Cuairt Dheireannach Chupa na Camanachd a chumail ann am Peairt, le Baile a’ Chaolais a’ dèanamh a’ ghnothaich air Baile Ùr an t-Slèibh 4-2. Chùm Peairt ceithir cuairtean deireannach eadar 1899 agus 1912 mar sin tha eachdraidh làidir aig Spòrs nan Gàidheal aig a’ Chathair-bhaile agus ’s e clach-mhìle chudromach a th’ ann an tilleadh an spòrs dhan sgìre.

Tha eachdraidh fhada aig Tatha is For ann an Cupa a’ Mhòid, a’ togail duais nam fear, Geall-dhùbhlain na h-Aghaidh Mhòir ceithir tursan ann an 1980, 1986, 1996 agus 2004, nuair a chaidh am Mòd a chumail mu dheireadh anns a’ Chathair-bhaile Mhaiseach. Ma gheibh iad a’ bhuaidh, togaidh iad an duais a tha an-còmhnaidh ga cluich eadar dà sgioba bhon sgìre far a bheil am Mòd ga chumail, airson a’ chòigeamh turas, a’ chiad sgioba a bhios air seo a dhèanamh. Chaidh an geall-dhùbhlain a chluich airson a’ chiad uair eadar Baile Ùr an t-Slèibh agus Ceann a’ Ghiùthsaich aig Mòd na h-Aghaidh Mhòir ann an 1969 agus ’s e an aon duais nach do bhuannaich Ceann a’ Ghiùthsaich fhathast!

Bidh Tatha is For a’ dol an aghaigh Obar Dobhair ann am fharpais nam fear is nam ban, an sgioba Fìobhach a thòisich an sgeul aca fhèin ann an 2001. Ged nach an comann beagan nas sine na 20 bliadhna a dh’aois tha na Fìobhaich air a dhol seachad air an caraidean bho thaobh thall na linne agus ’s e an dara sgioba aca a bhios an-sàs san fharpais oir tha a’ chiad sgioba a’ cluich san Roinn Nàiseanta aig an aon àm.

Cha do chluich Obar Dobhair riamh airson Cùpa a’ Mhòid ged bha còir aca cluich sa chuairt-dheireannach ann an Inbhir Ghrainnse aig Mòd na h-Eaglaise Brice ann an 2008 a chaidh a chur dheth ri linn droch shìde. Tha an dara sgioba aig Obar Dobhair a’ cluich san roinn fo Thatha is For, ach ged a tha an dùil gum bi sgioba Dhùn Èideann nas làidire, tha geam farpaiseach, teann an amharc aig 1.30f.

’S e an geam mu dheireadh aig Eanraig MacAonghais mar rèitire a bhios ann cuideachd. Tha cliù aige mar am fear a thug spionnadh do Fhergie Dòmhnallach “The Shinty Referee” a sgrìobhadh agus tha e air iomadh Cupa a’ Mhòid a rèiteachadh thar nam bliadhnaichean ach bidh e a’ leigeil dheth fhìdeag as dèidh geam nam fear.

Thèid Geall-dhùbhlain LearnGaelic a chluich eadar sgiobaidhean nam ban aig an dà chomann aig meadhan-latha. ’S e Cupa a’ Mhòid tè de dh’àireamh bheag de dhuaisean ann an spòrs nam ban a tha ga cluich air bun-stèidh 12 gach taobh. ’S e Obar Dobhair an sgioba as treasa san rangachd, a’ cluich roinn nas àirde na Tatha is For ach, ’s e sealladh cruaidh, spòrsail eile a bhios ann cuideachd.

Tha gach tachartas a’ faighinn taic bhon Chomunn Ghàidhealach, Live Active, Comhairle Pheairt is Cheann Rois, Iomain Cholmcille agus Comann na Camanachd.

Bidh fharpais òigridh agus cothrom cluiche do dh’òigridh sa mhadainn ro na geamannan. Thathar an dòchas gum brosnaich an tachartas seo stèidheachadh sgioba ùr ann an Siorrachd Pheairt aig ìre òigridh agus ìre inbhich sna bliadhnaichean ri teachd.

Ma tha ùidh aig neach sam bith ann a bhith a’ cur taic ri iomain ann an Siorrachd Pheairt agus an sgìre mun cuairt, bu chòir dhaibh fios a chur gu Alison Thompson, Oifigear Leasachaidh Chomann na Camanachd aig alison.thompson@shinty.com no air 07921210179

Pictures from An Comunn Gaidhealach/Elaine Livingstone