As the team get ready for the start of the 2026 season, welovestornoway.com had the opportunity to observe a Camanachd Leòdhais’ Senior Men’s training session on Wednesday 25 February as they prepared for their first away game this weekend (Saturday 7 March).
Coming off the back of their win against St Andrews in a friendly match where they scored 6 – 1 at Shawbost pitch, the team are set to begin their 2026 season this weekend with their first away game against Beauly on Saturday. This match opens the season and is the first of many away games, meaning a lot of travel and a few overnight stays for the team.
The season typically runs from March to August, but with weather and pitch conditions making it difficult to complete all the leagues and cup games on schedule, co-manager Connor Chalmers points out that games have gone as late into the year as October. For the first two months of the season, they’re booked up with away games.
The team take a short break in their off-season but are now getting back into the routine of playing together and preparing for a busy season ahead. With games lined up for almost every weekend for six months, they spend a lot of time on the road and travelling back and forth.
Joining Connor as a co-manager is Donnie MacRae. They're taking over the roles after Men's Senior Team Manager Duncan MacIntyre and Assistant Manager Andrew MacAskill announced they were taking a step back after last season. While Connor is a local islander from Steinish, with family connections to Uig, Donnie moved to the island a few years ago and joined the team after learning the game at Canal Parks in Kilmallie. Both have reputations for playing a significant role in the sport with Connor’s years of dedication to the team since his debut in 2011 and Donnie setting a record for scoring at least one goal every game since he joined in 2022.
There are at least three games lined-up for every month until August, with the exception of July when they welcome Kilmallie for a home game as well as the crowd-gathering HebCelt game which takes place on Saturday 18 July. Their games range from cup competitions to league matches, along with the occasional friendly in between.
A range of ages play for the team, giving younger ones the opportunity to build their knowledge and confidence with real gameplay as well as giving more experienced players the chance to develop within the sport.
Connor and team player Sean Macleod both emphasised the strong sense of camaraderie within the squad as the shinty season begins. With long travel days and some overnight stays away from home, players form a bond outside of games, making it more than just a sports team but a whole support system.
Always open to welcome new players across the board on their senior men’s, juniors and women’s team, which is on the rise with growing opportunities and regular training, they look for people with any level of experience who are interested in getting involved in the sport.
They’ve welcomed local players as well as those who have moved to the island, recalling how most join the team and note the positive difference in how the Lewis team plays and practice together compared to other mainland teams. They highlight how uplifting and encouraging this is and how this adds to the sense of belonging for players.
While there are a couple of injured players currently sitting out of games, they continue to attend training and take part in team activities, maintaining an easy atmosphere within the squad and showcasing that it’s more than just a sport, but a representation of island life and community.
To keep up with the team's progress, scores and games fixtures, follow their Facebook and Instagram pages which are fully updated to showcase the team's current standings.
