An Aird
Encyclopedia
An Aird is both an area of Fort William
, Scotland
, and also the largest dedicated shinty
park in the town and is situated on the east bank of Loch Linnhe
, near the centre of the town. It is located next to the Nevis Centre. An Aird regularly hosts both the Camanachd Cup
Final and the Composite Rules Shinty/Hurling Internationals and is considered one of the finest parks in shinty
. It is home to Fort William Shinty Club
's various squads who have played there since moving from Claggan Park in the 1980s.
The capacity of the stadium is 5000, comprising a small stand which seats 400 and standing. It also has Fort William's clubhouse on the premises.
Despite shinty's profile in the town, efforts are afoot to evict Fort William Shinty Club from An Aird, in order to build a supermarket. The local authority, Highland Council, have come under fire for their care of the park, especially after the playing surface was stripped bare by rabbits. The company behind the planned development of a new supermarket were unequivocal in stating in April 2007 that there would be no development upon the An Aird pitch. http://www.lochaber-news.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/1022/Surprise_bid_to_block_Waterfront_deal.html. In March 2008, Highland Council again came under fire for their negligence of the An Aird surface, which almost resulted in the loss of An Aird's prestigious status as a Camanachd Cup Final host stadium. http://www.lochaber-news.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2276/Final_whistle_shock_at_An_Aird_.html In February 2009 the stadium was attacked by vandals
causing thousands of pounds of damage.
The shinty club will be forced to move to the Black Park in Fort William in season 2010 in order for renovation work to be done on the pitch at An Aird.http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1521185?UserKey=
The area was again marked for development in late 2010 with plans being made by an Edinburgh based company to develop the site for a supermarket. This would involve moving the shinty
club to a new location within the town.http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2024865?UserKey=
Uncertainty over the availability of An Aird led to it losing the 2011 Camanachd Cup Final.http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2147481?UserKey=
Fort William, Scotland
Fort William is the second largest settlement in the highlands of Scotland and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.Fort William is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the north and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and also the largest dedicated shinty
Shinty
Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England and other areas in the...
park in the town and is situated on the east bank of Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland....
, near the centre of the town. It is located next to the Nevis Centre. An Aird regularly hosts both the Camanachd Cup
Camanachd Cup
The Camanachd Association Challenge Cup AKA the Camanachd Cup or Scottish Cup is the premier prize in the sport of shinty...
Final and the Composite Rules Shinty/Hurling Internationals and is considered one of the finest parks in shinty
Shinty
Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England and other areas in the...
. It is home to Fort William Shinty Club
Fort William Shinty Club
Fort William Shinty Club is a shinty club from Fort William, Lochaber, Scotland. The first team were Camanachd Cup holders four times in succession, between 2007 and 2010 but were knocked out in the second round in 2011...
's various squads who have played there since moving from Claggan Park in the 1980s.
The capacity of the stadium is 5000, comprising a small stand which seats 400 and standing. It also has Fort William's clubhouse on the premises.
Despite shinty's profile in the town, efforts are afoot to evict Fort William Shinty Club from An Aird, in order to build a supermarket. The local authority, Highland Council, have come under fire for their care of the park, especially after the playing surface was stripped bare by rabbits. The company behind the planned development of a new supermarket were unequivocal in stating in April 2007 that there would be no development upon the An Aird pitch. http://www.lochaber-news.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/1022/Surprise_bid_to_block_Waterfront_deal.html. In March 2008, Highland Council again came under fire for their negligence of the An Aird surface, which almost resulted in the loss of An Aird's prestigious status as a Camanachd Cup Final host stadium. http://www.lochaber-news.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2276/Final_whistle_shock_at_An_Aird_.html In February 2009 the stadium was attacked by vandals
Vandals
The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that entered the late Roman Empire during the 5th century. The Vandals under king Genseric entered Africa in 429 and by 439 established a kingdom which included the Roman Africa province, besides the islands of Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics....
causing thousands of pounds of damage.
The shinty club will be forced to move to the Black Park in Fort William in season 2010 in order for renovation work to be done on the pitch at An Aird.http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1521185?UserKey=
The area was again marked for development in late 2010 with plans being made by an Edinburgh based company to develop the site for a supermarket. This would involve moving the shinty
Shinty
Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England and other areas in the...
club to a new location within the town.http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2024865?UserKey=
Uncertainty over the availability of An Aird led to it losing the 2011 Camanachd Cup Final.http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2147481?UserKey=