Cromag Ceann-Feadhna Camanachd a’ Mhòid ga toirtdhan “Shinty Referee”

Thèid an t-urram Ceann Feadhna Camanachd a’ Mhòid a bhuileachadh air Eanruig MacAonghais, a bhuineas do Phortnan Long san Eilean Sgitheanach, ach tha an diugh a’ fuireachann an Steòrnabhagh, aig a’ Mhòd Rìoghail Nàiseanta sanÒban Disathairne seo tighinn.

Thòisich Eanruig le fìdeag an reiteire nuair a bha e ag obairair tìr-mòr agus a sguir e a chluich còmhla ri balaich InbhirNis.  Lean e air an uairsin am meadhan na pàirce na reitire aiggrunn de chuairtean deireannach Chomann na Camanachd, leithid Cupa MhicTàbhais Cupa an t-Sutharlamaich agus cupaBhanca na h-Alba air latha mor na camanachd. Bha e cuideachd na bhritheamh-tadhail aig a’ chuairt dheireannaichfhèin co-dhiù dà thuras.

Tha e cuideachd air a bhith na reitire aig geamaicheancamanachd a’ Mhòid ann an leithid Phortrigh, Steòrnabhagh, Mòdan Chataibh agus Gallaibh, agus ann am Peairt.

Leig Eanruig dheth a dhreuchd mar reiteire tri bliadhna air ais le gèam eadar Camanachd Leòdhais agus Srathghlais, 45 bliadhna an deidh a’ chiad ghèam a rinn e eadar Lochcaranagus Srathghlais.

Ged a tha Eanruig ainmeil na reiteire agus aininichte air feadhchoimhearsnachd na camanachd (agus air rèidio agus Tbh), thàinig e gu aire an -t-saoghail nuair a chlàraich Fergie Dòmhnallach nach maireann an ceòl agus an uairsin òran“The Shinty Referee”.  Bha sin aig àireamh a h-aon air clàr i-Tunes ceòl an t-saoghail agus air a chluich air feadh an t-saoghail.  Chaidh am pòrt a dhèanamh an toiseach aig FèisCheilteach ann an Trá Lí, agus thàinig an t-òran bho làimhFhergie an dèidh sin.

Chaidh a’ chiad chromag son urram a Chinn Feadhna a thoirtdo dh’Ùisdean MacIllInnein aig Mòd Phàislig an uiridh agusbidh esan an làthair aig Pàirc Mhossfield anns an Òban aiggeamaichean camanachd na bliadhna seo aig a’ Mhòd,Disathairne seo tighinn son a toirt do dh’Eanruig.

Thuirt Ùisdean : “Bha e na urram dha-rìreabh dhomh fhèinnuair fhuair mi a’ chromag an-uiridh air a’ bhliadhna a bha mi a’ sgur a dh’obair mar chraoladair. Tha mi air leth toilichtegum bidh cromag a nis aig Eanruig, ged nach eil feum aige air buileach fhathast.  Tha e gu math iomchaidh gur esan a thatighinn as mo dhèidh agus e cho dealasach a’ frithealadh namMòd agus geamaichean camanachd fad is farsainn.”

Chaidh a’ chromag a dhèanamh le Roddie MacIllInnein annan Inbhirnis a tha nis ainmeil airson a bhith a’ cruthachadhchamain agus duaisean fiodha.  Cha a mhaoineachadh leis a’ bhuidhinn Camanachd na Cuimhna (Shinty Memories Scotland).

 

Mòd Shinty Chieftain’s “Cromag” goes to “The Shinty Referee”

The honour of National Mòd Shinty Chieftain will be bestowed upon Henry MacInnes, who belongs to Portnalong, Skye but now lives in Stornoway, at the Royal National Mòdin Oban this coming Saturday.

Henry first blew his referee’s whistle when working on the mainland when he rrtired from playing iwth Inverness. He would go on to officiate at several major finals, including the MacTavish Cup, the Sutherland Cup and the Bank of Scotland Cup on Camanachd Cup Final day, as well as being a goal judge at the final itself on occasion.

He has also been a referee for several Mòd Cup Finals in Portree, Stornoway, Shawbost, Uist, Caithness, Sutherland and finally in Perth.

The Mòd Cup Final in Perth was his final performance, one last game after retiring two years ago with a game between Camanachd Leòdhais and Strathglass almost 45 years to the day since his first game between Lochcarron and Strathglass.

Although Henry is famous as a referee and well known amongst the shinty community (and on TV and radio) he came to the attention of the world when the late Fergie Macdonald recorded the tune, and then the song, “The Shinty Referee”. It reached number one on iTunes World Music Chart and was played throughout the world. The tune was first wirtten at the Pan-celtic Festival in Tralee, and then Fergie wrote the song years later.

The role of Mòd Shinty Chieftain and the ceremonial cromagor crook was first rangte to Hugh Dan MacLennan at the Paisley Mòd last year, and he will be in attendance at Mossfield Stadium in Oban this Saturday to present this year’s cromag to Henry.

Hugh Dan said : “It was truly a great personal honour to receive the cromag last year when I was retiring from broadcasting. I am delighted to present this croamg to Henry, even though he doesn’t need it quite yet. It is very fitting person to succeed me as he has been so passionate in attending the Mòd and shinty matches across the country.”

The cromag has been crafted by Roddie MacLennan of Inverness, a renowned artisan who specialises in ceremonial camans and wooden prizes. It has been funded by Shinty Memories Scotland.