Everyone at Kingussie Camanachd Club were saddened to hear of the passing on the evening of Thursday 22^nd July of our legendary goal keeper Rab Muir after fighting illness with typical grit and determination over the last few years. Rab played for Kingussie 1^st team over four decades, making his debut in 1959 and playing his last game in 1987. This was interspersed with a couple of spells with Kincraig Shinty Club.

The goal keeper that famous day in 1961 at Fort William when Kingussie overcame Oban Celtic to take the Camanachd Cup back to the town for the first time in 40 years, Rab went on to captain the team to MacTavish Cup and League title success in 1962. Captain again in 1976 he is one of the few people to captain the club twice.

He played in three Camanachd Cup Finals in the 80’s – all against Newtonmore. Winning in ’84, losing in ’85 and capping his career off with a fantastic display in the 1987 win at An Aird.

A popular figure Rab was equally at home having a dram and chatting about shinty in Newtonmore as he was in Kingussie and he had many friends in both communities. Also a keen golfer he was deadly with the raffle tickets at the shinty club golf outings and nobody got past him without buying plenty! Rab was, quite literally, the first name on the team sheet for the veterans team in the New Years day match against the young pups until just a few years ago – he wasn’t keen to give up his jersey!

Not long after leaving hospital in 2019 after major surgery Rab led the team on to the field at Mossfield for the Macaulay Cup Final against Oban Camanachd and enjoyed the ensuing celebrations as much as anyone.

He was desperate to see the team in action this year and was very disappointed that the covid regulations meant he couldn’t attend matches. His great friend Tommy Nolan then began to take Rab ‘fishing’ on the Spey on a Saturday and their drive back through Dell Mor just happened to be at the same time as the shinty would begin on the Dell 😊 Rab saw his last match just a few weeks ago.

The way Rab battled his illness was no surprise to all who knew him, he was the hardiest of men you will ever meet. As one of our coaches said this morning ‘Rab was a lesson in how to fight in life’.

He will be sorely missed in our club and community. Our thoughts are with Christine, Lorraine, Gordon and families.

Rest easy Rabbie.