Scotland’s leading shinty players will head across the Irish Sea this autumn as the men’s and women’s international contests with Ireland return to Cork.
The Shinty Hurling and Shinty Camogie Internationals will be played at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday 24 October, bringing together four national squads for one of the Celtic sporting calendar’s most distinctive occasions.
The women’s international will open the double header at 4pm before the men’s match gets underway at 6pm.
It follows last year’s international gathering in Inverness and continues the collaboration between the Camanachd Association, Women’s Camanachd Association, GAA and Camogie Association.
Attention will now turn to selection, with coaches on both sides of the Irish Sea facing the task of choosing squads of just 19 players from the leading talent available to them.
Those selected will represent Scotland and Ireland under the combined rules which bring together elements of shinty, hurling and camogie.
The international series draws on the shared history of the sports while giving players accustomed to competing domestically the rare opportunity to represent their country.
Camanachd Association National Development Manager Ronald Ross said:
“We are delighted to reaffirm our partnership with the GAA and our colleagues in Camogie and the Women’s Camanachd Association, allowing our shared Celtic sports to once again be showcased on the international stage.
“SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh is a fantastic venue for these matches, and we are extremely grateful to the GAA and Cork County Board for hosting us.
“The international series has always been about fierce competition on the field and strong friendships away from it, and we look forward to renewing those ties with our friends across the Irish Sea in October.”
GAA President Jarlath Burns said the relationship between Scotland and Ireland and the common ancestry of shinty and hurling made the international series particularly significant.
He said:
“Our shared history and our shared culture with our closest neighbours in Scotland is something that is worthy of celebration and nothing does that better than the games of hurling and shinty which share a common ancestor and are such an intrinsic part of who we are.”
Women’s Camanachd Association President Karen Williamson said:
“We are excited to renew ties with our Irish neighbours and are excited for our players to be given the opportunity to represent their country again, thanks to the Camogie Association and the GAA for hosting us in Cork.
“I wish Ross Brown and his coaches the very best of luck in choosing just 19 of our talented crop of shinty players and thanks again to Mowi for their ongoing support.”
With only 19 places available in each squad, competition for a Scotland jersey now begins before shinty and its Irish cousins come together again in Cork this October.
