Shinty Memories Scotland

11/06/2026

01/05/2026

Since 2022, the National Library of Scotland has been getting out and about in Scotland more and more. This is so that we can meet people and organisations who might benefit from our vast collections, and spend a bit of time in an area making connections, finding out what people are interested in, and guiding folk through our collections and resources.


It’s all free, and when people discover the sheer range of our collections people almost always find something of interest to them.



We will be taking a trip from Oban to Fort William, stopping off at places on the way. We will be especially keen to connect people to our Gaelic collections, and you will have a chance to meet the Library’s new Gaelic Assistant Curator, Fiona MacDougall.



You might see us out and about in our Library T-shirts (if it’s warm enough), but you will definitely be able to catch us at the following places:

Ballachulish Shinty Clubhouse, Wednesday 6th of May, 7-8.30pm

Fort William Library, Thursday 7th of May, 6-7.30pm

29/04/2026

03/04/2026

What puts sporting collections at risk, and why do they matter?

Following last year’s National Sporting Heritage Day, we hosted a Collections at Risk webinar and network discussion exploring the challenges facing sporting archives across the UK and how we can support them.

In the second half of the session, Fran Stovold facilitated a sector-wide conversation with our panellists and attendees, reflecting on what’s needed to safeguard sporting stories for future generations.

One key takeaway came from Philip Gale, Head of Standards & Improvements at The The National Archives summed up why sporting heritage is vital to the wider heritage record:

“Sports are a mirror to society and sporting archives tell us about social attitudes, class division and economic realities... If we did not have sporting heritage records, we'd have an incomplete landscape of society.”

"Sporting archives are more than records of play, they’re records of people, communities and social change. Ensuring their survival is essential to keeping our shared history pluralistic, inclusive and representative.

🎥 Find out more and watch the discussion linked in our blog post: https://tinyurl.com/mrybax3s

02/04/2026

01/04/2026

A new trophy has landed in our rotational cabinet - we’re now displaying the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup 🏆

The trophy has been competeted for since 1879, making it the oldest competition in Shinty. The competition is open to teams in the south district, and is one of the trophies that forms a grand slam. Kyles Athletic are the only team to have lifted the cup on their way to a grand slam, winning the cup in 1966.

Many thanks to to the record holders Oban Camanachd for lending us the trophy - come along and visit us to see a living piece of Shinty history!

Tha duais eile againn ‘sa chiste- tha sinn a nis a sealltainn a Chupa Comann Ceilteach Glaschu 🏆

Tha an duais seo air a bhith an cluich bho 1879. An co-fharpais as aosta ann an ioman. Tha a cho-fharpais seo fosgailte ri sgiobaidhean bho sgire an deas, agus ‘s e aon de na cupain a tha na pàirt dhan ‘Grand-Slam’. Tha Camanachd nan Caol Bòdach an aon sgioba a tha air a chupa seo a thogail air an t-slighe ri ‘Grand-Slam’ a bhuannachadh ann an 1966.

Tainng mhòr gu Camanachd an Òbain airson a chothrom an cupa seo a chleachdadh- trobhad dhan taisbeanadh is gabh sùl dhut fhèinn!