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Established in 1641

Dunoon Grammar School was founded in 1641.’Cowal’ is one of the school’s four Houses.

From around 500AD, Cowal became part of the kingdom of Dal Riata (similar in extent to modern day Argyll and the inner Hebrides). One of Dal Riata’s first kings, Fergus Mor, divided the main areas of his lands amongst his three grandsons. He gave Cowal to Comgaill, whose family controlled the area through following generations and consequently gave their name to the peninsula (evolving over time from Comgaill to Cowal).

In the middle ages, the remote areas in the north east of Cowal were used by Scottish kings for hunting. Cowal was the last part of Britain to have wild boar.

Cowal became home to a famous annual Highland Games, at a time when Queen Victoria’s love of Scotland sparked an interest in Highland sports. The first Cowal Gathering was held on 11th August 1894, organised by local man Robert Cameron.