The 100th anniversary of the Iolaire tragedy will be remembered in a special commemorative shinty match on the 1January 2019.
Kinlochshiel Shinty Club will be the opposition as Camanachd Leodhais honour the 201 men who didn’t make it home on that fateful night.
The historical significance of the match lies in the fact that the Iolaire left Kyle of Lochalsh, a town represented by Kinlochshiel, and that many of the Lewis men who served in the Great War were shinty players.
Camanachd Leòdhais captain Ally Lamont said: “As a club we are conscious that we represent the island and our community in everything we do. The unimaginable loss of the Iolaire tragedy can still be felt across our island and we feel that a shinty match, a sport which many of the Lewis men who went to war would have played, is a fitting way to honour their memory.
“We would like to thank Kinlochshiel Shinty Club for making the journey to Lewis and for their understanding of the importance of this event to our club and community.”
Neil Macrae, a Director of Kinlochshiel Shinty Club, welcomed the opportunity to honour those who never came home.
He said: “Kinlochshiel Shinty Club are pleased to participate in the Iolaire commemorations.
“Notwithstanding the fact the boat started her journey in Kyle, the tragedy took the lives of young men of shinty playing age from an island renowned for its sportsmen.
“This commemoration is a sobering reminder of how fragile life can be and how lucky our young men and women are to be able to play freely.
“We can only wonder how prominent shinty may have been on Lewis had these lads been given the chance to take up the game. We look forward to a sporting and respectful challenge with the present and growing Lewis Camanachd.”
Norman A MacDonald, chairman of The Iolaire Working Group commented: “Shinty was, of course, the sport played by many of the men at the time.
“We are very pleased and grateful to Camanachd Leòdhais and to our friends in Kinlochshiel for making the effort to organise this very fitting sporting event.”
The match will take place at 1.30 pm on New Year’s Day at Bayhead Playing Fields, Stornoway. Spectators are warmly welcomed.
Iolaire shinty challenge match
12 November 2018