Sport & Cultural History of the Moray Firth Region: Wade Cormack Scottish Studies Talk

On January 9, 2014 in MacKinnon room 132 from 3:00 to 4:00pm, the program in Scottish Studies proudly presents Wade Cormack (University of Highlands and Islands): "The Links and Sports Fields: A Sport and Cultural History of the Moray Firth Region, c.1603 to 1799."

Abstract: An arena for sports, a community grazing land, and the site of bitter clan clashes: the coastal links of the Moray Firth region demand historic examination because of their embedded cultural significance, historic importance, and present-day value. Through historic and cultural lenses, I investigate the development of golf. Histories of sport, and golf specifically, often neglect the Highlands into their discussions. Moreover, they largely overlook sport prior to the development of institutionalised and mass spectator sport. This discussion introduces the topic of early-modern Scottish sport by briefly exploring the historiography of sport in Scotland, my research questions and my evidentiary base. Sport in early-modern Scotland was an integral components of everyday life, often juxtaposed with time spent labouring, and was influenced by a complexity of cultural factors. Arguably, the most prominent of these cultural influences was the role play by the Scottish Kirk in determining when and what recreations were appropriate. The results of this research will contribute the Royal Dornoch Golf Club's celebration of the 400th year anniversary of golf in Dornoch, will be valuable for the academic and local community, and the substantial number of tourists who visit Scotland every year with the intent of participating in Scottish sports for leisure.

All welcome! For more information visit Scottish Studies.