Renfrewshire primary school pupils are getting a taster of Scotland’s national sport ahead of the Royal National Mòd coming to Paisley this week.
The popular game shinty, most widely played in the Scottish Highlands, has been rolled out to four schools in Renfrewshire for pupils to try out the sport, which shares similarities with hockey and the Irish game, hurling.
More than 100 pupils from West, Arkleston, Newmains, and Kirklandneuk Primary Schools have opted to take part in the 6-week taster block delivered by OneRen Active Schools coaches. The aim is to promote the sport by making it more accessible for young people while giving them the opportunity to learn new skills and work as a team.
After the initial block pupils will get the opportunity to continue shinty lessons and it may be rolled out to more schools in the area.
One of the schools participating in the trial, West Primary, is also home to Renfrewshire’s Gaelic School which has just marked the first anniversary of its opening. By taking part in the shinty, sessions pupils are continuing to embrace Gaelic language and culture.
Laura Isdale (9) said: “I’ve really enjoyed learning how to play shinty. I really like how we get to work together as a team and it’s quite different to other sports I’ve tried. I’d like to learn more skills and maybe even play a match.”
The timing of the lessons could not be better as Paisley gets ready to welcome the Royal National Mòd, Scotland’s premier celebration of Gaelic music and culture to the town. A popular element of the festival is the Mòd Shinty Cups which will be played on Saturday 14 October at King George V Pitches, Renfrew.
Professional shinty players Cameron Middleton of Strachur-Dunoon and Rory MacDiarmaid of Glasgow University visited pupils from West Primary School Gaelic class and Primary 5 pupils to see how they were enjoying training. They even brought along some of the trophies the shinty teams will be competing for during Mòd Phàislig.
After the visit Cameron said: “It’s great to see the kids react with so much enthusiasm to learning the sport given they have just started learning how to play. I hope they continue with it – it’s really important to get as many young people involved in the sport as possible and I hope some of them think about coming along to watch the shinty matches taking place at the weekend.”
Connor Dell (9) said: “It’s been really fun learning how to play shinty. It’s a bit different to sports like hockey and it’s something I’d like to play more of. I really enjoyed meeting the shinty players and finding out more about the game.”
West Primary School Headteacher, Lynne McGinn, said: “Offering shinty to pupils allows us to embrace all different sports in Renfrewshire schools which pupils may not have tried before. With a major sporting event in Renfrewshire like the Mòd Shinty Cup, this could spark them to take part further.”
Chair of OneRen, Councillor Lisa- Marie Hughes, said; “It’s great to see so many of the pupils enjoying the shinty taster sessions. By introducing young people to the sport at an early age it can foster a genuine passion for the sport and make them more open to try something new.
“By bringing events like the Royal National Mòd to the town we want people of all ages to have the opportunity to get excited about Gaelic culture and sport and the Mòd Shinty Cup and other activities taking place during the festival offer the perfect opportunity for everyone to get involved.”
Paisley has a long history with the national sport which goes back over 160 years. The Paisley Football and Shinty Club was founded in November 1855. The sport captured Paisley’s imagination and resulted in thousands of spectators going to watch matches at the time. The hope is that through introducing the sport to more young people a genuine interest and passion for the game will grow and more people will want to play it.
Mòd Phàislig, organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach, is expected to bring thousands of visitors and competitors to Renfrewshire for the nine-day festival which will take place at venues across Paisley town centre from Friday 13 – Saturday 21 October. To find out more please visit, http://www.modphaislig.com.
Camanachd ga sgaoileadh a-mach gu sgoilearan bun-sgoile ann an
Siorrachd Rinn Friù
Tha sgoilearan bun-sgoile Siorrachd Rinn Friù a’ faighinn blasad de spòrs
na h-Alba air thoiseach air a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail a’ tighinn a Phàislig an t-seachdain-sa.
Chaidh an gèam ainmeil, camanachd, a thathas a’ cluich sa mhòr-chuid air Ghàidhealtachd na h-Alba, a sgaoileadh a-mach gu ceithir sgoiltean ann an Siorrachd Rinn Friù airson sgoilearan an spòrs fheuchainn, geama a tha coltach ri hocaidh agus geama Èireannach, iomain.
Tha còrr air 100 sgoilear bho Bhun-sgoiltean an Iar, Arkleston, Newmains, agus Kirklandneuk air roghnachadh pàirt a ghabhail anns a’ bhloc blasaidh 6-seachdain air a lìbhrigeadh le coidsichean OneRen Active Schools. Is e an t-amas an spòrs adhartachadh le bhith ga dhèanamh nas ruigsinniche do dhaoine òga agus a’ toirt cothrom dhaibh sgilean ùra ionnsachadh agus a bhith ag obair mar sgioba.
Às dèidh a’ chiad bhloca gheibh sgoilearan cothrom air leasanan camanachd a chumail a’ dol agus ’s dòcha gun tèid a sgaoileadh a-mach gu barrachd sgoiltean san sgìre.
Tha tè de na sgoiltean a bha a’ gabhail pàirt anns a’ chùis-lagha, Bun-sgoil an Iar, cuideachd na dachaigh do Sgoil Ghàidhlig Siorrachd Rinn Friù a tha dìreach air a’ chiad cheann-bliadhna bhon a dh’fhosgail i a chomharrachadh. Le bhith a’ gabhail pàirt anns na seiseanan camanachd, tha sgoilearan a’ leantainn orra a’ gabhail ri cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig.
Thuirt Laura Isdale (9): “Chòrd e rium gu mòr a bhith ag ionnsachadh mar a chluicheas mi camanachd. Is fìor thoil leam mar a gheibh sinn gu bhith ag obair còmhla mar sgioba agus tha e gu math eadar-dhealaichte bho spòrsan eile a dh’fheuch mi. Bu mhath leam barrachd sgilean ionnsachadh agus is dòcha eadhon geama a chluich.”
Cha b’ urrainn àm nan leasan a bhith na b’ fheàrr agus Pàislig a’ dèanamh deiseil airson fàilte a chuir air a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail, prìomh chomharrachadh Alba de cheòl is cultar na Gàidhlig don bhaile. ’S e pàirt den fhèis a bhios a’ còrdadh ri mòran Cupan Camanachd a’ Mhòid a thèid a chluich air Disathairne 14 Dàmhair aig Pàircean Rìgh Deòrsa V, Rinn Friù.
Thadhail cluicheadairean proifeiseanta camanachd Camshron Middleton à Strachur-Dùn Omhain agus Ruaraidh MacDiarmaid à Oilthigh Ghlaschu air sgoilearan à clas Gàidhlig Bun-sgoil an Iar agus sgoilearan Bun-sgoil 5 gus faicinn mar a bha an trèanadh a’ còrdadh riutha. Thug iad eadhon cuid de na duaisean a bhios na sgiobaidhean camanachd a’ farpais air an son aig Mòd Phàislig.
Às dèidh an tadhail thuirt Camshron: “Tha e math a’ chlann fhaicinn a’ dèiligeadh le uimhir de dhealas airson an spòrs ionnsachadh leis gu bheil iad dìreach air tòiseachadh ag ionnsachadh mar a chluicheas iad. Tha mi an dòchas gun lean iad leis – tha e air leth cudromach gum bi uimhir de dhaoine òga an sàs anns an spòrs agus tha mi an dòchas gum beachdaich cuid aca air tighinn a choimhead air na geamannan iomain a bhios a’ gabhail àite aig an deireadh sheachdain.”
Thuirt Connor Dell (9): “Bha e uamhasach spòrsail a bhith ag ionnsachadh camanachd. Tha e rud beag eadar-dhealaichte ri spòrs mar hocaidh agus tha e na rud a bu mhath leam barrachd a chluich dheth. Chòrd e rium gu mòr a bhith a’ coinneachadh ri cluicheadairean na camanachd agus a’ faighinn a-mach barrachd mun gheama.”
Thuirt Ceannard Bun-sgoil an Iar, Lynne McGinn: “Le bhith a’ tabhann camanachd do sgoilearan leigidh sin leinn gabhail ri spòrsan eadar-dhealaichte ann an sgoiltean Siorrachd Rinn Friù nach do dh’fheuch sgoilearan roimhe seo. Le tachartas mòr spòrs ann an Siorrachd Rinn Friù leithid Cupa Camanachd a’ Mhòid, dh’fhaodadh seo toirt orra barrachd com-pàirt a ghabhail.”
Thuirt Cathraiche OneRen, an Comhairliche Lisa- Marie Hughes; “Tha e math a bhith faicinn na h-uimhir de sgoilearan a’ faighinn tlachd às na seiseanan blasad camanachd. Le bhith a’ toirt a-steach daoine òga don spòrs aig aois òg faodaidh e fìor dhealas a bhrosnachadh airson an spòrs agus an dèanamh nas fhosgailte airson rudeigin ùr fheuchainn.
“Le bhith a’ toirt tachartasan mar am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail dhan bhaile tha sinn ag iarraidh gum bi cothrom aig daoine de gach aois a bhith air bhioran mu chultar is spòrs na Gàidhlig agus tha Cupa Camanachd a’ Mhòid agus tachartasan eile a bhios a’ gabhail àite tron fhèis a’ toirt deagh chothrom dhan a h-uile duine a dhol an sàs.”
Tha eachdraidh fhada aig Pàislig leis an spòrs nàiseanta a tha a’ dol air ais còrr air 160 bliadhna. Chaidh Club Ball-coise is Camanachd Phàislig a stèidheachadh san t-Samhain 1855. Ghlac an spòrs mac-meanmna Phàislig agus mar thoradh air an sin chaidh na mìltean de luchd-amhairc a choimhead air geamannan aig an àm. Is e an dòchas tro bhith a’ toirt a-steach an spòrs gu barrachd dhaoine òga gum fàs fìor ùidh agus dìoghras airson a’ gheama agus gum bi barrachd dhaoine airson a chluich.
Tha dùil gun toir Mòd Phàislig, air a ruith leis a’ Chomunn Ghàidhealach, na mìltean de luchd-tadhail is farpaisich do Shiorrachd Rinn Friù airson na fèise naoi-latha a bhios a’ gabhail àite ann an ionadan air feadh Phàislig eadar Dihaoine 13 – Disathairne 21 Dàmhair. Gus barrachd fhaighinn a-mach, tadhail air: http://www.modphaislig.com.
Paisley Photographs 