Voice of shinty to receive final fling in Inverness
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He has been known as the voice of shinty for more than 30 years but Hugh Dan MacLennan is set to put down the microphone for the final time.
To mark his career in broadcasting, a special event is set to take place on the eve of the Camanachd Cup final at Bught Park in Inverness.
Hugh Dan's Highland Fling is set to take place at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness on Friday, September 15
The special performance will by hosted by BBC Scotland’s Gary Innes, who has worked as co-commentator with Hugh Dan for a number of years on the television coverage of shinty’s showpiece occasion.
He has collaborated with Hugh Dan on numerous notable stage performances such as Shinty’s Heroes and Lochaber Gold, celebrating various aspects of shinty’s place in Highland communities.
The 2023 Cup Final, to be played as the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday September 16, will be significant for a number of reasons.
It marks 100 years since the first Camanachd Cup final played at the Bught Park and it coincides with the 40th anniversary of Hugh Dan’s first Camanachd final in 1983, alongside the legendary David Francey and George Slater.
It will also be one of the last big matches to take place at the Bught for the foreseeable future, with multi-million pound work on the new shinty exhibition space and stand renovation to be started soon after the final.
Innes will take on the role of host at Eden Court as well as take part in the musical aspects of the show, discussing with Hugh Dan how he became involved in broadcasting originally.
The pair will chat on how the chance to work for the BBC in sport offered the opportunity to become involved eventually in football, shinty, curling and rugby commentaries with BBC ALBA and the SRU, World Championship orienteering events and attendance at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Innes said: “The happy coincidence of the various strands involved in the cup final and Hugh Dan’s retirement offer us a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the events of the past 40 years, along with getting the chance to hear from some of the legendary figures he has worked with.
"I am delighted to say that BBC Radio Scotland’s Iain Anderson, the Ceilidh King himself Fergie MacDonald MBE and piping legend Duncan MacGillivray of Calrossie will be amongst some of the guests who will be reflecting on Hugh Dan’s work, with the latter two giving the audience a tune or three.
"We also have a line-up of award-winning musicians set to perform who have worked with both of us on various projects over the years and we look forward to announcing more names to Hugh Dan’s Final Fling in the coming months.”
Hugh Dan will commentate on the Camanachd Cup Final for the last time the day after the Eden Court event, but will continue with his sports reporting and commentary work on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and BBC ALBA as well as on the SRU’s super6 series in the coming weeks and over the summer.
He said: “All good things come to an end, and it is an appropriate coincidence of events this September which gives us a great chance to bring as many people as possible who have helped me throughout the years to have a bit of fun, and there’s plenty of reminiscing and craic going to be on offer given the line-up Gary is pulling together.”
Tickets for Hugh Dan’s Final Fling are bow on sale at the Eden Court website.
