National Lottery Heritage Grants £250,000 to £10 million
Our support has enabled The Camanachd Association to open a landmark exhibition at Bught Park, Inverness, dedicated to Scotland’s oldest sport. The exhibition serves as the first permanent shinty museum, marking a major milestone in preserving the game's cultural legacy.
Visitors can discover artefacts from shinty’s past, use immersive digital displays to explore personal stories from players past and present, and take a rich and emotional journey through the sport’s evolution.
The exhibition explores four key themes:
- Origins
- Community
- Competition
- Future
Shinty's Story is the first permanent space to comprehensively showcase the sport’s history, from its ancient roots to its global reach – from St Kilda to Krasnodar. It also highlights the challenges shinty has faced, including war, economic hardship and cultural shifts.
The exhibition is housed within a new Highland Council-owned pavilion at Bught Park, the venue for some of shinty’s most historic games and setting for modern cup finals.
More than a game, shinty is a living tradition that continues to shape Highland identity. This exhibition ensures its story will be told for generations to come.
Shinty's Story is free to visit Friday to Tuesday, 9am–5pm. Donations are encouraged to support its long-term sustainability. Learn more about heritage projects we're supporting across Scotland, from Braemar to the Borders.
