ÀRAINN SHUAINEIRT - The Sunart Centre
Welcome to the website of
Àrainn Shuaineirt – The Sunart Centre
Strontian
Acharacle
PH36 4JA
Tel: 01397 709228
Email: enquiries@sunartcentre.org

ÀRAINN SHUAINEIRT (THE SUNART CENTRE) is the name chosen by the local community for the complex that includes Ardnamurchan High School and all the additional community facilities.

What does the name mean? Shuaineirt is the genitive case Gaelic original of Sunart. Àrainn is a new word, probably with its origins in Sabhal Mor Ostaig in Skye, denoting centre, surrounding area, campus, hence Àrainn Shuaineirt – Sunart Centre. Gaelic pronunciation varies from area to area and speaker to speaker. For the benefit of non Gaelic speakers who would like to use the Gaelic name, a guide to proper pronunciation is essential, since for English speakers the Gaelic spelling is not user friendly. After much discussion with local speakers and Gaelic scholars from other areas, the closest we have managed to get to a consensus is AAREEN HOO-AIN-YERSHT – say it quickly with the emphasis on the HOO and you’ll get there.

Set in the heart of the Gaidhealtachd, community interest in and ownership of the centre is embodied by Àrainn Shuaineirt, a constituted community organisation with membership open to everyone living in the area. The centre is managed by the Àrainn Shuaineirt Management Committee, with representation from each of the five Community Council areas within the school catchment area. This committee advises The Highland Council on how it would like the centre run, and also develops initiatives of its own based on the centre’s activities.

Developments within the centre include:

•	A year-round programme of the performing and visual arts including educational and outreach opportunities.
•	Letting of the facilities for conferencing, meetings, workshops etc. and of the school hostel will bring in additional income which create new opportunities for developments within the centre
•	Access by the community and commercial users to a wide range of sporting facilities, including:
		°	Fitness Suite
		°	Games Hall with three full-sized badminton courts and equipment for many sporting activities
		°	Fantastic all-weather full sized football pitch complete with full floodlighting facilities
		°	Grass shinty pitch
•	Lifelong learning opportunities through Higher and Further Education and vocational and recreational classes.
•	Ardnamurchan Library
•	A Youth Development Programme, focusing on encouraging access to and use of all the facilities outside school hours for the 8-16 year age range