Twenty six pupils from Glenurquhart High School are heading across the Irish Sea on Monday (1 October) as the school’s contribution to Highland 2007, the year that Scotland celebrates Highland culture.

The party will fly to Dublin on Monday when they will visit the national stadium - Croke Park, Dublin. During their four-day stay, they will play a couple of shinty-hurling matches before returning home on Thursday.

Accompanying the group will be Mrs Josie Mackenzie, depute head teacher,   Miss Laura McConachie, PE teacher,  and three local shinty coaches, Helen Maclennan, Jim Mackintosh and Peter English.

Mrs Mackenzie said: “The pupils have been involved in fund-raising and we have received marvellous support from the wider community in putting together funding for this trip. This is a wonderful example of our community supporting our pupils in showcasing our local sport and all of us are deeply appreciative of this support.”

Donations have been received from:

• Highland Industrial Supplies  £1,500
• Loch Ness Angling Competition £1,000
• Kilmartin Estate £500
• Mackintosh Joinery £500
• Councillors Discretionary Budget £500
• Glenurquhart Highland Games £250
• Glenurquhart Shinty Club £250
• Glengarry Shinty club £250
• Strathglass Shinty Club £250
• Glenurquhart High School £500
• Runrig £300

The itinerary is as follows.

• Mon 1 October: Tour of  Croke Park, Dublin
• Tues 2 October: Visit College Naomh Cormac in Kilcormac in County Offaly for full day of shinty/hurling activities. Games will be 10-a-side and we will field under 14 and under 16 sides.
• Wed 3 October: Visit Dublin Gaelic Athletic Association club Whitehall Colmcille with games against their youth teams.
• Thurs 4 October: Return home.