Shinty supporters can look forward to some special coverage of their favourite sport on BBC Alba over the festive period.
Shinty’s Heroes (Gaisgich na Camanachdon)
The tributes to Shinty’s Heroes, which was first staged at the Nevis Centre, Fort William ahead of the 2013 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final, will be shown in two parts. The episodes, which were part of Blas 2013, pay tribute to shinty’s heroes, many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice. The first programme will be aired on Sunday 29 December 2013 at 8.30pm whilst the second programme will be broadcast at 9pm on Saturday 4 January 2014.
The first programme looks at the impact of the First World War on shinty, the playing areas and in particular, some of the exploits of Highland Heroes at battles such as Festubert in 1915, through a combination of war-time and sporting images, many of which have been unseen before.
The Battle of Festubert was a pivotal moment for the Cameron Highlanders and the devastating effects were keenly felt in Scotland. The killing fields of Festubert are a long way from the shinty fields of the Highlands, but the First World War brought both places tragically closer. For shinty-playing communities like Portree, Kingussie and Beauly, Festubert is the darkest part of their history, the battle having cost them dearly in lives. During the war years, competitive shinty ceased because so many players answered the call to arms. Gaisgich na Camanachdon looks at the calamitous loss of potential to communities and towns and reveals how the Great War almost killed shinty off altogether.
The first episode will be repeated on Thursday 2 January 2014 at 7pm.
Ceol, Camanachd is Cogadh
The second episode, titled Ceol, Camanachd is Cogadh, will be shown by BBC Alba on Saturday 4 January 2014 at 9pm.
The hour long programme will feature highlights from the inaugural event from the Nevis Centre, Fort William.
The tribute concert reveals the links between shinty, music and the Great War and it was recorded the evening before shinty’s biggest event of the year, the Camanachd Cup Final.
When Beauly lifted the Camanachd Cup in 1913, after defeating Kyles Athletic at Kingussie, none of the players could have been aware that they were about to write their own chapter of history. The Great War was about to be thrust upon them.
The tribute is presented by shinty historian Dr Hugh Dan MacLennan and Fort William and Scotland international Gary Innes is the musical director.
The guests include renowned fiddler Duncan Chisholm from Cannich, master piper Duncan MacGillivray from Easter Ross, singers Norrie MacIver and Kathleen MacInnes, along with Allan Henderson, Iain MacFarlane and the one and only Fergie MacDonald – all from various parts of Lochaber.
Dr MacLennan said, “The starting point of our journey is really the unique success of the Lovat and Beauly teams who allegedly combined to win the Camanachd Cup in 1913. We celebrate that remarkable event and then follow a couple of the Beauly players who went to War and left us a remarkable pipe tune which we will play on the evening. There are extraordinary tales to tell and on the eve of shinty’s greatest day out, it was singularly appropriate that we marked the shinty player’s and the shinty community’s contribution to the Great War. And the impact that had on the game.”
Gary Innes added, “I am delighted that so many top musicians from the shinty-playing areas, each with a connection to shinty teams, joined us for the show. It was a remarkable evening in the Nevis Centre and the start of a perfect weekend for shinty fans throughout Scotland. I am delighted that we are able to take the show to Glasgow and Celtic Connections.”
This programme will be repeated on the same channel on Sunday 5 January 2014 at 8pm.
The show will also be performed in a slightly different format at this year’s Celtic Connections in the Mitchell Theatre, Glasgow on Saturday 2 February 2014.
SWAGs (Shinty Wives And Girlfriends)
Before Shinty’s Heroes hits the screens, there will be an hour long shinty programme with a difference screened on Christmas Day as BBC ALBA takes a different slant on the sport as they follow the Shinty Wives And Girlfriends (SWAGs) of Orion Group Premiership sides Kinlochshiel, Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore through the 2013 season.
As well as taking in the action on the field of play, there are weddings and a naked players’ calendar photo-shoot to be organised by the SWAGs off the park. The St Andrews University ladies team will also be featured.
SWAGs will be first shown on BBC Alba on Christmas Day at 9pm and it will be repeated on the same channel on Saturday 28 December at 9.30pm.