Congratulations to Camanachd Leòdhais stalwart Ally Lamont on his recent marriage to Alison at Tullibole Castle in Kinross. One of the three Lamont brothers to have worn the Dubh is Gorm, Ally has been part of shinty in Lewis since a young age.
He began his shinty under Boyd MacKenzie at Smith Avenue Astro in the mid 00s, and was a young travelling supporter for the first ever senior game away to Lochbroom in 2007. (Himself and David “Kenzi” MacKenzie were given a bucket bought hastily from the Captain’s Rest in Ullapool by then manager Eoghan Stewart and the dynamic duo somehow raised a couple of hundred quid going round the ferry!).
Ally is a very keen footballer, in particular a goalkeeper and this was where his interests would lie mainly for the next few years whilst still in school, including following his beloved Glasgow Rangers. He went to the University of Edinburgh to study PE Teaching, and it was whilst in Edinburgh, that he regained the shinty bug. Hauled in to play for Glasgow Island as a sub at the St Andrew’s Sixes, which was a team consisting mostly of Lewis players with a couple of guests, Ally’s goals were crucial to their unlikely triumph over then National Division Glenorchy in the final.
On the way to the final, Ally had helped overcome his own University, and he started playing for them whilst starting to make appearances in the Dubh is Gorm. Ally’s goalscoring streak at the sixes took a while to translate to the senior team, and it wasn’t until a famous 2-2 draw against Caberfeidh at Castle Leod (our first against our Ross-shire rivals) that Ally would break his duck. Not always the most prolific of scorers, but also often playing a variety of positions, Ally still contributes on average 3 goals a season, and in many cases they have been vital goals. He was also joint top scorer in 2022 with a season total of 5 and is one of the Camanachd Leòdhais 100 Club for appearances with ease.
He also became a Littlejohn Vase winner with his University, the first Camanachd Leòdhais player to raise this famous trophy. In addition to this, he has also represented Alba in games against both Ireland (Iomain Cholmcille) and England.
Ally would move back to the islands to teach after finishing his probation year, and he became much more heavily involved in coaching the sport. In addition to doing goalkeeper training for football, Ally also took on a lot of the coaching in the Nicolson that was up until then delivered by Iain Sinclair. This would have a big impact on the club as in 2017, in addition to being named the club’s Player of the Year and Manager’s Player of the Year, Ally was awarded the Donella Crawford Award for Youth/Schools at the Marine Harvest Shinty Awards in Inverness. This national recognition of the incredible amount of work done by Ally in his time back in Lewis was well-deserved. He went over and above the call of duty to leave a legacy of enthusiastic and talented youngsters many of who have become part of our current success at Camanachd Leòdhais.
However, there was no permanent contract available for Ally, and it was a heavy loss for the shinty community, and indeed the wider community, in Lewis & Harris that this talented and capable young Gaelic speaker was unable to secure a teaching position in his homeland. Ally had to move to Mallaig to continue his career development.
Moving to Mallaig didn’t stop Ally contributing strongly on the park, or indeed being made captain in 2019, and although he would step down later in the season feeling he could not give the commitment he felt it required, he filled the post with great dignity before handing it over to his brother Donald. Ally took great pride in representing the club at the MV Iolaire Commemorations on January 1 2019 and captaining it against the visiting Kinlochshiel side in the Iolaire Memorial Match.
In the last couple of years Ally has moved again to Oban, where he continues to teach, in the same school as his now wife Alison. Ally continues to be an important part of the first team squad, often travelling many miles, sometimes even just to be on the bench, but very often with Alison in tow showing her support. He played a crucial part in the club’s first ever cup win in 2022 versus Boleskine, as well as featuring in this iconic celebration photo alongside brother Innes Lamont.
Ally has been a major part of the Camanachd Leòdhais story as both man and boy and we wish both him and Alison nothing but the greatest of happiness and joy for the rest of their lives. Dubh is Gorm gu Bràth!
Whilst Ally and Alison were tying the knot, the boys were doing the business on the road at Caol. It was another fine 2-1 win at Canal Parks versus Kilmallie. Callum MacRitchie and Paddy Wilson got the goals before a fun night out in Inverness with the squad. Next Up the HebCelt!
Photo from Ally and Alison’s wedding by Fraser Craig Photography.