London Camanachd - Camanachd Lunnainn

Shinty For London

Iomain do Lunnainn

A Brief History of the London Camanachd Club

The club was formed in 1894, being an amalgamation of London Northern Counties and London Scots. After a long period in abeyance it was re-formed in 1982 by Hugh O'Kane and Sean Reid, before folding again in 1992. Between 1982 and 1992 play was held at Northolt. In earlier times play was held at Wimbledon Common, Parliament Hill, Kodak Grounds (Harrow) and probably elsewhere. Between 1873 and 1915 regular play was held on Good Friday and Boxing Day at Wimbledon. Of all the London clubs only London Camanachd continued until the 1920's and 1930's.

The only trophy won was the Skeabost Horn in 1985. Semi finals of both the Balliemore and Bullough Cups were reached in 1984-85. Nine matches were played that year. more than in any other, and the Shinty Year Book Trophy was awarded for endeavour.

The club entered for the Camanachd Cup in 1896 and scratched to Glasgow Cowal as they could not afford the trip to London. As in its early years the club had the same difficulties in raising a team and finding money to travel to Scotland, local competitions were organised for such as Mr Macleod's Cup 1882, Inverness Association Cup (a silver-mounted ram's head) 1901, The Dewar Shield 1908, Young Cup 1913, London Challenge Cup donated by the chief, Mr R.T.S. Macpherson, in 1986. The club won this trophy for four years until 1990 when Fr. Murphy's G.A.A. won it. In 1991, Brian Boru, having entered every year, won it. The club's furthest advance in the Camanachd Cup was in 1984 when it lost to Skye in the quarter final. In 1989 the club donated the London Shield for the national juvenile play-off. Kilmory, Glasgow Highland and Scottish university teams have made the long trip to win the London Cup.

In January 2005 a group of passionate individuals, originally from both sides of the border, decided to reform the club with both a womens and mens teams. With their commitment and passion, who knows what the future will hold...