History

The village of Kenmore can trace its origin way back to the 16th Century.  At that time, it was called Inchadney and was approximately two miles from its current location, north of the River Tay.

In 1540, the village was moved to its present position when Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy built Balloch Castle, now known as Taymouth Castle.  From high on the hills above Loch Tay, the area where the Loch meets the land below resembles a big head and shoulders.  The Gaelic word Caenmore means “big head” and it is believed that this is how the village acquired its name, which subsequently became Kenmore.

We now know that the first Games took place in September 1843.   The Games were held to celebrate the visit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to Taymouth Castle in 1942. Reports from both the Perthshire Courier and the Perthshire Advertiser can be read below. 

Those reports state that crowds gathered in Kenmore Square and proceeded through the West Gate, also called the Kenmore Gate, led by 150 Breadalbane Highlanders who had formed the Queen’s Guard the year before.  They further report that Lord Breadalbane and guests were seated in a pavilion on a hill along with a vast crowd who had walked 5 minutes to take their place on a hill to watch the games.

The Games of 1843 featured a gun salute.  We know that, at that time, canons were situated on what is known locally as Hangman’s Hill. Hangman’s Hill is the large tree-lined hill to the north of the sports ground.  The Games moved to Aberfeldy after a few years and the Breadalbane Gathering lapsed. 

The good news, however, is that a group of locals got together in 1972 with a vision to transfer a local summer games night held at Mains of Taymouth since 1967 into the Kenmore Highland Games.   Those locals were Duncan Menzies, Ian Menzies, Kenneth McVicar, Sandy Mitchell & Alec Dott, amongst others.

Thereafter, the Kenmore & District Sports Association was incorporated and a site for the new Games was chosen and purchased.  At the time, they had no idea that the site purchased for the Games was the same location chosen by Lord Breadalbane some 130 years earlier!   Lord Breadalbane decided upon a spot close to the head of Loch Tay at Kenmore; a site which formed a natural amphitheatre with sloping ground on two sides and a large area of flat ground at the base.  The arena is a perfect place for a spectator sport to take place, which is exactly that the local group thought all those years later!   
Early Games were compered by Kenneth McVicar who was the local minister.  On one evening, upon being asked if he could guarantee good weather, Rev. McVicar’s response was “I’ll have a word with the Boss”.   The Games featured ‘Heavy’ events, running races, dancing, stalls and caravaners.  The evening also featured a Pillow Fight competition for children – please see the image below.

The Pavilion and children’s playing area you see today, were added at later dates. 

Today’s games are organised and run by local volunteers who form the Committee of the Kenmore & District Sports Association.  In order to make the Games as successful as they are, the group works throughout the year to prepare and ensure the ‘Friendly Games’ continue. 

The Kenmore Sports Association also has a group of Trustees who oversee the Committee to ensure that the Games are held in the spirit of their forefathers – literally!  The Trustees are Ian Duncan-Miller, Colin Menzies, Robin Menzies and George Mitchell whose fathers got together to get the Games going again some 50 years ago.

In past years, we have welcomed visitors from every part of the World you can name!  The atmosphere created by these visitors as they watch the competitors is electric, making it a pleasure for all.  

We are keen to hear from anyone who has any information about the history of Kenmore Highland Games, in particular photographs from the 1970s onwards would be very welcome.