Hurling and camogie will take centre stage in sports ireland coverage this autumn after the Mowi Hurling-Shinty International was officially launched at Holyrood ahead of its return to Scotland on October 25. The cross-code series will bring Scotland and Ireland to Bught Park, Inverness, for a double-header that puts the women’s and men’s games on the same bill for the first time.
That is the key development from the Edinburgh launch, where GAA President Jarlath Burns, Camogie President Brian Molloy, Camanachd Association President Burton Morrison and Women’s Camanachd Association President Karen Williamson were joined by Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney. For followers of irish sports, the event underlined both the sporting and cultural links between hurling, camogie and shinty.
What the Hurling-Shinty International means for sports ireland fans
The 2025 staging is notable for two reasons: the return to Scotland for the first time since 2018, and a fully unified delivery across the four governing bodies. In practical terms, that means:
- The women’s Scotland v Ireland match opens the day.
- The men’s fixture follows at 2pm.
- Both games share equal billing at the same venue.
- The occasion highlights stronger cooperation across GAA, camogie and shinty.
Irish officials also stressed the heritage behind the fixture. Burns pointed to the long historical bond between Ireland and Scotland, while Molloy said the women’s match offers a valuable international stage for camogie players.
On the field, there is real competitive edge. Ireland’s men are chasing a third straight win, with co-manager Terence McNaughton expecting pace and skill to be decisive in the hybrid format. Scotland’s new men’s boss Alan MacRae said selection will be highly competitive, while women’s manager Ross Brown believes his side has the experience to adapt to the aerial threat posed by the Irish challenge.
For readers tracking sports ireland, gaa ireland and ireland sports events, this is more than a ceremonial launch. It is a meaningful step for women’s sport, a rare international shop window for native games, and an event worth watching as October approaches. The next key update will be final squad selection and confirmation of match build-up in Inverness.
