Camanachd Leodhais, who have brought national league shinty to the island for the first time, and Harris Tweed Hebrides this week announced a three-year sponsorship agreement which will help the club secure a firm financial footing in its early days.
Club treasurer Daniel Gallagher, manager Paul Duke and Donald Lamont visited the company’s Shawbost mill prior to last Saturday’s game against Aberdeen University, to display the new strips, bearing the Harris Tweed Hebrides logo and the company’s Gaelic title, for the first time.
Paul Duke said: “Harris Tweed Hebrides’ support is a massive boost for the club in our first season in the league. We thank the company for their enthusiasm for shinty in Lewis and Harris and believe it is an ideal partnership between two groups dedicated to re-invigorating old traditions.
“Staggering the deal over three years allows us to plan sustainably as a club for the future. We also hope that having an internationally recognised brand as our shirt sponsor will encourage other businesses to support the club. In this day and age it is important to develop a community of sponsors, both large and small, to help meet the costs of equipment, travel and youth development.
“The strips look great and we have already had lots of interest from people wanting to get their hands on one. We are also the only shinty club to have an entirely Gaelic kit. Unfortunately, having them made out of tweed would have been just a little bit too impractical.”
Harris Tweed Hebrides chairman, Brian Wilson, said: “We are delighted to support Camanachd Leodhais at this crucial stage of their development. Shinty, Gaelic and Harris Tweed are all part of the same culture, so it is a very appropriate sponsorship”. The company will host a reception for Camanachd Leodhais on May 14th to mark their first-ever league appearance to be played on home soil.
CLÒ MÒR INNSE GALL A’ CUR TAIC RI CAMANACHD LEÒDHAIS
Tha Camanachd Leòdhais, a tha air iomain lìog nàiseanta a thoirt dhan eilean airson a’ chiad uair, agus Clò Mòr Innse Gall air aonta-taice thar trì bliadhnaichean a ghairm an t-seachdain-sa a bhios a’ toirt bun-ionmhais seasmhach dhan chomann aig an toiseach den iomairt aca.
Thadhail neach-ionmhais a’ chomainn, Daniel Gallagher, manaidsear a’ chomainn Pòl Duke agus cluicheadair Dòmhnall MacLaomainn air muileann a’ chompanaidh ann an Siabost ron ghèam aca Disathairne seo chaidh an aghaidh Oilthigh Obar Dheathain gus an deiseachan ùra, a bhios a’ sealltainn suaicheantas Chlò Mòr Innse Gall is tiotal Ghàidhlig a’ chompanaidh, a thaisbeanadh airson a’ chiad uair.
Thuirt Pòl Duke “Tha taic Chlò Mòr Innse Gall a’ toirt spionnadh mhòr dhan chomann anns a’ chiad sheusan againn san lìog. Tha sinn taingeil dhan chompanaidh airson an dealais aca dhan iomain ann an Leòdhas agus na Hearadh agus tha sinn a’ creidsinn gur e compàirteachas air leth a tha seo eadar dà bhuidheann aig a bheil uidh ann a bhith ath-bheothachadh seann traidiseanan .
“Le bhith a’ sgaoileadh an aonta thar trì bliadhnaichean, ‘s urrainn dhuinn ullachadh gu leantainneach airson an àm ri teachd. Cuideachd, tha sinn an dòchas le companaidh aig a bheil cliù gu h-eadar-nàiseanta mar luchd-taice deise gum brosnaich seo companaidhean eile taic a chur ris a’ chomann. Anns na làithean a tha seo, tha e cudromach a bhith a’ togail coimhearsnachd de luchd-taice, an dà chuid beag is mòr gus cuideachadh le bhith a’ coinneachadh ri cosgaisean uidheamachd, siubhail agus obair òigridh.”
“Tha na lèintean a’ coimhead sgoinneil agus mu thràth tha mòran dhaoine air uidh a nochdadh ann a bhith a’ faighinn greim air tè. Is sinn an aon sgioba iomain a tha ann aig a bheil deise a tha gu lèir sa Ghàidhlig. Gu mì-fhortanach ge-tà, bha e rud beag neo-phrataigeach a bhith gan dèanamh a-mach à clò Hearach!”