Camanachd Association warns SNP candidates depopulation could affect shinty

Shinty’s governing body the Camanachd Association warns that one of the biggest threats to the sport is the number of people leaving rural communities.

Its marketing and communications manager Aarron Duncan-Macleod says the main question the sport would ask the future First Minister is what it would do to keep young people in rural areas.

The association has tried to address the loss of young people from rural areas which is having a detrimental impact on the number of players getting involved in the sport.

The impact of second homes is felt mostly in rural communities with shinty officials concerned with the impact it will have on the sport in the future.

Mr Duncan-Macleod said: “One of the biggest issues facing shinty at the moment is rural depopulation. How specifically, would the candidates help rural communities thrive and retain a younger local population?”

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.