THE efforts of the Scottish shinty team in its international series of matches with Ireland will be supported by Gaelic development agency Comunn na Gàidhlig, (CnaG).
The Scottish men's senior team and the women team meet Ireland in Kilkenny on Saturday and the under 21s meet in Durrow, Co Laois on the same day.
At stake in the two men's matches will be sàr-chluicheadair medals which will be presented to the be
st players in each game. The solid silver medals have been presented annually by CnaG since 1992 when Barry Egan of Cork was the first recipient at the Bught Park, Inverness.
Archie Maclean, Chief Executive of CnaG, said: "CnaG is delighted to be supporting the Scottish effort in the international matches once again and we wish all three teams the best as they try and return with as many of the trophies as possible.
"It is very important to CnaG to be involved with sport in its Gaelic dimension and we look forward to seeing much more of shinty on the new Gaelic television channel BBC ALBA. It is very fitting that we maintain our link with shinty's governing body because of its significant role in the community and also Comunn Luthchleas Gael (GAA) in Ireland.
"The international series is the pinnacle of the sports representation and we look forward to developing more links with the Irish through sport at all levels, through other school, and community initiatives and formal agencies such as Colmcille.
"It is exchanges such as these which offer the inspiration to players in areas such as North Uist and Comunn Camanachd Leòdhais that they, too, might one day go on to represent their country at the highest level."
Welcoming the confirmation of the awards, Camanachd Association Chief Executive Gill McDonald said: "Scotland has done very well in terms of winning the sàr-chluicheadair medals with Norman Campbell winning it for the third time at Fort William last year, the only player to have done so. I know that the individual awards are much sought after and highly prized.
"They add another dimension to what is a thrilling spectacle and one which deserves to be seen by as wide an audience as possible. The Camanachd Association is grateful to Comunn na Gàidhlig for its continued assistance and looks forward to bringing as many of the trophies as possible back to Scotland."
