News Naidheachdan

[Iain MacIllEathain – Preseantair] Nise dìreach ron spòrs, spòrs. Chumadh cuirm shònraichte a-raoir le Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, a’ comharrachadh mar a bhuannaich sgioba Leòdhais agus na Hearadh Cupa Cailleannach a’ Chinn a Tuath am-bliadhna, no an-uiridh ‘s e th’ann. Aig a’ chuirm a-raoir, aig oifisean na Comhairle, fhuair a h-uile duine a bh’anns an sgioba agus na stiùirichean litir bhon Bhànrigh. Tha an aithris-sa an-dràsta aig Ruairidh Rothach.

[Ruairidh Rothach – Neach-aithris] An tadhal a ghlèidh Cupa Chailleannach a’ Chinn a Tuath airson Leòdhas agus na Hearadh bho chionn trì mìosan air ais. Chan e a-mhàin gun do rinn sgioba Leòdhais agus na Hearadh a’ chùis air sgiobaidhean na cuaiche ‘s iad a’ trèanadh còmhla tòrr nas trice, chluich iad a h-uile gèam air falbh bhon taigh. Cha b’e seo ach an dàrna oidhirp aig Leòdhas agus na Hearadh san fharpais, tha iad air adhartas iongantach a dhèanamh ann an ùine ghoirid.

[Coinneach MacÌomhair] Uill tha e fhathast chun an là an-diugh, tha e duilich, tha an cupa air a bhith agamsa aig an taigh bhon a fhuair sinn e agus as dèidh sin tha mi ga choimhead agus tha mi ag ràdh rium fhìn, na rinn sinn seo? ‘S tha e mìorbhaileach na rudan a chaidh a dhèanamh. Nuair a thòisich sinn air a’ chùis tha seo thuirt sinn – an e seo an ath cheum dha ball-coise anns na h-eileanan agus tha mi, chun an là an-diugh a’ cantainn ‘s e seo an ath cheum. Tha sinn an dèidh ceum uabhasach mòr a ghabhail. Tha sinn an dèidh, mar a thuirt mi a cheana, tha sinn an dèidh dèanamh a’ chùis air na sgiobaidhean as motha Highland Amateur air tìr-mòr faodaidh tu ràdha. Tha sinn an dèidh dèanamh a’ chùis air Arcaibh ‘s air Sealtainn ‘s air Goillspidh agus sin na trì cho mòr ‘s a bh’ann, a tha sinn an dèidh buannachadh trì dhiubh.

[Ruairidh Rothach – Neach-aithris] Chan ann tric a tha sgioba ball-coise a’ faighinn urram cuirm oifigeil aig Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, ach bha beachd ann gu robh saothair agus soirbheachas na sgioba làn airidh air.

[Tormod Dòmhnallach] Tha an rud a choilean iad mar sgioba mìorbhaileach math ach a bharrachd air sin tha an spionnadh agus am brosnachadh a tha iad a’ toirt dha òigridh nuair a chì iad gu bheil e comasach dha cluicheadairean anns na h-Eileanan a bhith gabhail pàirt ann an spòrs aig àrd ìre mar a rinn an sgioba seo. Agus tha mi smaoineachadh gu bheil sin a cheart cho cudromach dhuinne anns na h-eileanan, iad a bhith buannachadh cupan, bhith buannachadh lìog. ‘S e an dìleab a tha e dol a dh’ fhàgail às a dhèidh agus a bhith toirt misneachd dha òigridh eile a bhith dol an sàs anns an spòrs agus ball-coise gu sònraichte a thaobh a’ chupain a bhuannaich an sgioba a bha seo.

[Ruairidh Rothach – Neach-aithris] Chan e a’ Chomhairle a-mhàin a chuir urram air an sgioba. Fhuair an sgioba ‘s an luchd-stiùiridh gu lèir litir bhon Bhànrigh a’ cur meal an naidheachd orra. Ged a tha Coinneach MacÌomhair air a bhith an sàs ann am ball-coise ann an Leòdhas ‘s na Hearadh fad iomadach bliadhna, bha dùil aige gu robh greis mhath aige ri dhol fhathast mus fhaigheadh e litir bhon Bhànrigh.

[Coinneach MacÌomhair] Cha robh dùil agam ris fhathast ged a tha mi liath anns a’ cheann bha dùil agam gum biodh greiseag agam ri dhol fhathast. Bha e mìorbhaileach faighinn call bho Maighstir Matheson a’ cantainn gu robh e dol a chur litir thugainn bhon Lieutenancy. Bha e mìorbhaileach dha-rìribh agus nuair a chunna mi an litir, ‘s chunna mi ainm a h-uile duine air an litir bha e mìorbhaileach bhith faighinn na h- urraim sin.

[Ruairidh Rothach – Neach-aithris] Tha aire na sgioba a-nis air Cupa Sheoc MhicAoidh agus a’ ghèam an aghaidh Inbhir Dheòrsa aig deireadh na mìos. Ruairidh Rothach, BBC An Là, Steòrnabhagh.

[Iain Maclean – Presenter] Now before the sport, sport. Western Isles Council last night held a special event to mark Lewis and Harris FC’s victory in the North Caledonian cup this year, or last year as it was. At the event last night at the Council offices, everybody in the team and the directors received a letter from the Queen. Roddy Munro has this report.

[Roddy Munro - Reporter] The goal that won the North Caledonian cup for Lewis and Harris FC three months ago. Not only did Lewis and Harris manage to beat all the other teams in the cup due to training together more often, they played every game away from home. This was only Lewis and Harris’s second attempt at the competition, they’ve made remarkable progress in a short space of time.

[Kenny MacIver] Well still to this day it’s difficult to believe, I’ve had the cup at home since we got it and I’ve been looking at it and I ask myself, did we do this? The things that have been done are wonderful. When we set out we asked – is this the next step for football in the islands and I, to this day, say that it is the next step. We’ve just taken a massive step. As I said before, we’ve beaten the biggest teams in the Highland Amateur on the mainland, you could say. We’ve beaten Orkney and Shetland and Golspie and they’re the big three and we’ve won against them all.

[Roddy Munro - Reporter] It’s not often a football team gets the honour of an official ceremony at the Western Isles Council, but it was thought the team’s work and success were more than deserving of it.

[Cllr Norman Macdonald] What they have accomplished as a team is marvellous but in addition to that there’s the encouragement and inspiration they give to young people when they see it’s possible for players in the islands to take part in sports at such a high level like this team did. And I think that’s just as important for us in the islands, they won a cup, won a league. It’s the legacy it’s going to leave and giving more confidence to young people to take part in sport and football in particular with this team winning the cup.

[Roddy Munro - Reporter] It wasn’t only the Council who showed appreciation of the team. The team and directors all received a letter from the Queen congratulating them. Although Kenny MacIver has been involved in football in Lewis and Harris for many years, he thought it would be a good while yet before he got a letter from the Queen.

[Kenny MacIver] I didn’t expect it yet, although I’m grey-haired I thought I had a while to go yet. It was wonderful to get a call from Mr Matheson saying he was going to send us a letter from the Lieutenancy. It was marvellous and when I saw the letter and I saw everyone’s names, it was amazing to receive that honour.

[Roddy Munro - Reporter] The team are now focusing on the Jock MacKay Cup and the game against Thurso at the end of the month. Roddy Munro, BBC An Là, Stornoway.