“An Dà Chluaran / The Two Thistles”
Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Partick Thistle are both delighted to announce our joint participation in this year’s Seachdain Na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) through the language initiative “An Dà Chluaran / The Two Thistles” with support coming from FC Sonas – The Scottish Gaelic Football Service.
Throughout the week both football clubs will aim to showcase the roll and the presence of the Gaelic language in their respective footballing communities. The objective is to build on previous commitments from both football clubs towards the Gaelic language and culture such as: Instalment of Gaelic signage at the Firhill Stadium and Gaelic match day announcements at the Caledonian Stadium.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle CEO Scot Gardiner said: “Seachdain Na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) and the support of FC Sonas has provided an opportunity for the football club to build on our commitment to the Gaelic language and culture since our initiative with the Royal National Mod in 2020. We welcome this occasion to showcase the presence of the Gaelic language amongst our respective communities through partnership work – An Dà Chluaran / The Two Thistle’s – alongside our friends at Partick Thistle.
As the professional football club of the Highland capital, we are seeking to embrace our strong Gaelic heritage as an integral part of the football clubs identity. We are looking forward to building on the back of Seachdain Na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) events and stimulating further engagement with the Gaelic speaking community”
Gordon Fyfe, Chairman of ICT Community Trust and a director of the ICTFC, said: “We are delighted to be working with FC Sonas to promote Gaelic through football and the health benefits that flow from the activities in the community with a wide variety of participants expected once we are fully up and running. Our participation in world Gaelic week is just the beginning in what we hope is a long partnership with FC Sonas, Bord na Gaidhlig and local schools which is great for the both the Community Trust and the football club and hopefully we will see more participation in healthy sporting activity and encourage more youngsters to get behind our team.”
Partick Thistle CEO Gerry Britton said: “The reaction since we launched our Gaelic Initiative last year has been truly fantastic, both from the local Gaelic-speaking community and also from many other Thistle fans who have been expressing new interest in Gaelic language and culture. To see Thistle supporters from local Gaelic-speaking schools, in particular, feeling more engaged with the club has added extra motivation for all at Firhill to continue to grow this ground breaking initiative.
“The latest demonstration of Partick Thistle’s commitment to our Gaelic initiative is the club’s participation in this year’s Seachdain Na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) with support coming from FC Sonas – The Scottish Gaelic Football Service. While all Jags fans know there is really only one Thistle, we are delighted to work in partnership with our friends at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and use World Gaelic Week to showcase the importance of the Gaelic language in our respective footballing communities.”
FC Sonas co-founder Calum Ferguson said: “We are excited to be working together with both Partick Thistle and Inverness Caledonian Thistle during Seachdain Na Gàidhlig in partnership – An Dà Chluaran / The Two Thistles – to showcase support for the Gaelic language and culture amongst the communities of two professional football clubs at opposite ends of the country.
It is our aim and ambition to build on our relationship with both football clubs in order to create new opportunities for Gaelic speakers and learners to participate in language based football activity in their local communities. We believe that the universal nature of football can help to challenge the narrative that surrounds the Gaelic language and we would like to thank Seachdain Na Gàidhlig for the opportunity to further increase awareness ”.
Seachdain Na Gàidhlig / World Gaelic week will run from the 20th to the 26th of February and both football clubs are proud to be participating in the events.
#GàidhligIsOurGoal #CleachdI #TogetherNess #WeAreThistle