Everyone involved with Skye Camanachd was devastated to hear the news that former player, coach and manager Alasdair Morrison passed away this morning.
Shinty played a huge part in Ally “Mor” Morrison’s life. After coming through DR MacDonald’s “academy” as part of a successful Portree High School team, it wasn’t long before, as a youngster, Ally broke into the Skye Camanachd senior ranks. A talented player, he featured for the club at first and second team level until the late 1980s.
Ally first came to the fore as a shinty coach whilst coaching youth players at Kyleakin Primary School and indeed throughout South Skye. Not only did the small school enjoy success on a national level but a number of players from such a relatively small village went on to play for the Skye Camanachd first team.
It was a natural transition that Ally would see so many of these promising youngsters progress into the Skye Camanachd second team and it was equally natural that he would become second team manager in 2003 for a three-year stint.
However Ally was always destined to be Skye Camanachd’s first team manager and he took over that role in 2006 for a three-year period, the highlight of which was a Balliemore Cup win in 2008 when the side beat Kilmallie 3-1 in the final at Braeview Park. He was hugely popular amongst the players and they presented him with an silver-mounted caman when he stepped down.
Ally’s commitment to the club continued whether it was cheering the team on from the touchline, buying goal nets or even (reluctantly) taking the role as goal judge from time to time.
He was good company and made many friends throughout the sport of shinty and was a very knowledgeable enthusiast of the game.
He was also a notable footballer with Kyleakin and was always proud to represent or cheer on his local village.
Ally passed away very peacefully on the morning of Friday 31 August 2018 after a short illness and everyone at Skye Camanachd will miss him terribly. There will be a minute's silence in Ally's memory ahead of tomorrow's Marine Harvest Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup Final between Skye and Badenoch at the Dell.
The sincere condolences from everyone at the club go out to Anne, Steven, Danny, Dawn, Eilidh as well as John Angus, Jesanne, Christine and the extended family.
Details of the funeral arrangements to follow