Football, language and a shared Celtic heritage will be the focus of a special sporting celebration in Inverness
Gàidhlig agus ball-coise aonaichte – Thig còmhla rinn!
Bidh ball-coise, cànan agus dualchas Ceilteach aig teis-meadhan cuirm spòrs ann an Inbhir Nis Disathairne (21 Ògmhios).
’S e sgioba ball-coise a th’ ann an Alba FA a chaidh a stèidheachadh gus an geama a chleachdadh mar dhòigh gus Gàidhlig na h-Alba a cheangal, a bhrosnachadh is fhàs tro ghnìomhachd choimhearsnachd, an dà chuid gu nàiseanta is gu h-eadar-nàiseanta.
Disathairne sa tighinn bidh Alba a’ cur fàilte air Kernow FA, a tha a’ riochdachadh na Còirne, airson ‘farpais nan Dùthchannan Ceilteach’ aig Pàirc a’ Chanàil.
A bharrachd air a’ gheama ball-coise, bidh seisean ball-coise tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig ann cuideachd (12 meadhan-latha gu 1.30f) do ghillean is do chaileagan, agus gheibh a h-uile neach a ghabhas pàirt a-steach dhan phrìomh gheama an-asgaidh.
Bidh cruinneachadh ron gheama a’ tòiseachadh le còmhlan-pìoba agus dannsa Gàidhealach, bidh an sgioba a’ blàthachadh, agus bidh laoidhean nàiseanta ann mus bi am breab toisich ann aig 3f.
’S e Calum MacFhearghais, a bha na chluicheadair proifeiseanta agus a bha an lùib Caley Thistle Inbhir Nis, a tha a’ cur air adhart beachd-smuain airson sgioba ball-coise nàiseanta Albannach le luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig a-mhàin.
Tha e na sheann sgoilear de Bhun-Sgoil a’ Mheadhain ann an Inbhir Nis, a’ chiad sgoil sa Ghàidhealtachd a bha a’ tabhann foghlam tron Ghàidhlig o chionn 40 bliadhna.
Thuirt e: “Chan leig thu a leas a bhith a’ bruidhinn no ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig airson tighinn còmhla rinn – chan eil sinn ach a’ comharrachadh ball-coise agus nas urrainn dha a dhèanamh.
“’S e leasachadh ùr ball-coise a tha seo agus tha sinn a’ feuchainn ri nas urrainn dhuinn a dhèanamh airson taic a chur ri cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig.
“Thar gach rud, tha sinn airson an cànan a ghleidheadh is a lìbhrigeadh do ghinealaichean ri teachd.
’S e dòigh sgoinneil a th’ ann am ball-coise gus sin a bhrosnachadh agus daoine a thoirt còmhla.”
“Thig còmhla rinn!”
Sna bliadhnaichean mu dheireadh, tha Calum air a bhith gu mòr an sàs ann a bhith a’ brosnachadh na Gàidhlig tro bhall-coise. Chuidich e gus FC Sonas a stèidheachadh, sgioba ball-coise coimhearsnachd Gàidhlig, a tha a’ lìbhrigeadh seiseanan ball-coise do dh’òigridh.
Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd a’ cur taic ri tachartasan Disathairne, seach gu bheil oidhirpean gus cothroman a leudachadh do dhaoine òga taobh a-muigh suidheachadh sgoile na phrìomh amas ann am Plana Gàidhlig na Comhairle.
Bhruidhinn Calum o chionn ghoirid aig Co-labhairt Ghàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd a bha a’ sgrùdadh nan cothroman eaconamach, sòisealta is cultarach a dh’fhaodas an cànan a thoirt dhan sgìre.
Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mun tachartas an seo: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/alba-fa-vs-kernow-fa-tickets-1390581589969?aff=oddtdtcreator
Fo-thiotal: Innes Scullion sa mheadhan, Calum MacFhearghais gu clì, Harry MacNeacail gu deas, dealbh Dylan Lawrence.
Liosta sguaid
- Mìcheal MacÌomhair
- Harry MacNeacail
- Calum MacIllinnein
- Uilleam MacFhionghain
- Dòmhnall Moireasdan
- Niall Mac a’ Phì
- Gilleasbuig Mac a’ Bhiocair
- Ionatan Peutan
- Dòmhnall MacEanraig
- Pàdraig MacIlleMhaoil
- Ros MacDhòmhnaill
- Ailig Iain Moireasdan
- Aonghas Iain Moireach
- Daniel Moran
- Gillies O’hAnluain
- Eòghann MacAnndra
- Daibhidh MacAnndra
- Sam MacAoidh
- Luke MacAoidh
- Calum Frame
- Calum MacFhearghais
ENGLISH
Football, language and a shared Celtic heritage will be the focus of a special sporting celebration in Inverness this Saturday (21 June).
Alba FA is a football team established to use the game as a force to connect, inspire and grow Scottish Gaelic through community activity, both nationally and internationally.
This Saturday Alba welcome Kernow FA, who represent Cornwall, for a ‘Celtic Nations’ clash at Canal Park.
As well as the football match, the day includes a Gaelic medium football session (12 noon-1.30pm) for boys and girls, where all participants will receive free access to the main match.
A pre-match gathering will begin with a pipe band and Highland dance performance followed by team warm-ups and national anthems prior to the 3pm kick-off.
Driving the idea to create a Scottish national football team made up entirely of Gaelic speakers is Calum Ferguson, a former professional who played for Inverness Caley Thistle.
He is a former pupil of Central Primary in Inverness, which 40 years ago was the first school in the Highlands to offer Gaelic medium education.
He said: “You don’t have to be a Gaelic speaker or learner to come along, it’s just a celebration of football and what it can do.
“This is a new footballing development and we’re trying to do our bit to support the language and Gaelic culture.
“Above all else we want to preserve the language and pass it on to future generations.
“Football is a great vehicle to champion that cause and bring people together.
“Thig còmhla rinn – join us!"
In recent years Calum has been heavily involved in promoting the Gaelic language through football.
He helped to found FC Sonas, a Gaelic community football club, which delivers football sessions to youngsters.
Highland Council is supporting Saturday’s events. Efforts to broaden Gaelic language opportunities for young people outside of a school setting is a key strand in the council’s Gaelic language plan.
Calum was one of the guest speakers at Highland Council’s recent Gaelic conference which examined the economic, social and cultural opportunities that the language can offer for the region.
Full details of Saturday's event can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/alba-fa-vs-kernow-fa-tickets-1390581589969?aff=oddtdtcreator
Alba Squad list
- Michael MacÌomhair (MacVicar)
- Harry MacNeacail (Nicolson)
- Calum MacIllinnein (MacLennan)
- Uilleam MacFhionghan (MacKinnon)
- Domhnall Mhoireasdan (Morrison)
- Niall Mac a’Phì (MacPhee)
- Gilleasbuig Mac’Phiocair (MacVicar)
- Jonathon Peutan (Beaton)
- Dòmhnall MacEanraig (Henderson)
- Padraig Mac Ille Mhaoil (MacMillian)
- Ross MacDhòmhnaill (MacDonald)
- Alex John Moireasdan (Morrison)
- Angus John Moireach (Murray)
- Daniel Moran
- Gillies O’hAnluain (O'Hanlon)
- Euan MacAnndra (Anderson)
- David MacAnndra (Anderson)
- Sam MacAoidh (MacKay)
- Luke MacAoidh (MacKay)
- Calum Frame
- Calum MacFhearghais (Ferguson)
Caption: Alba FA members Innes Scullion centre, Calum Ferguson left, Harry Nicolson right. Photo, Dylan Lawrence.