Limerick rugby volunteers to be celebrated and honoured by IRFU

A NUMBER of Limerick rugby volunteers who have made a significant contribution to the development of the game in Ireland are to be celebrated and acknowledged with a special recognition award as part of the IRFU’s 150th anniversary celebrations later this month. Reflecting on the history of the game, the nomination process was a chance for Clubs, Schools and Provinces to acknowledge the significant impact of members throughout the generations up to the modern day; influences that can still be witnessed in the rugby community across the island of Ireland. The candidates were then finalised by the respective provinces before their final submission to the IRFU.

The final list is available below and is broken down by province. In some instances the recipients of the award have been volunteering in other Clubs and Schools who are also listed. In offering our congratulations to all of the recipients of the awards who will be honoured by IRFU President Declan Madden at a pre-match reception ahead of the Energia All-Ireland League Finals Day at Aviva Stadium on April 27, the IRFU acknowledge and thank all of the nominees across Ireland who have showcased the outstanding work that makes the game of Rugby in Ireland so special.



MUNSTER Richie Feeney – Castletroy College Ger Staunton – Thomond RFC Trevor Doherty – Dungarvan RFC Tony Daly – Kanturk RFC Eamonn Murray – Munster Association of Referees Wessel Vosloo – Carrigaline RFC John Barry – Mallow RFC Mathew ‘Matty’ McCoy – Newcastle West RFC Anthony Kelliher – Killorglin RFC Fergal Healy – Nenagh Ormond RFC John Keane (posthumous)- UL Bohemian RFC Tony Grant – Young Munster RFC Joe Murphy – Midleton RFC Mike Walker – Killarney RFC Alan Craughwell – Sundays Well RFC Donal Kennedy – Ballincollig RFC Killian Barry – Coláiste Muire, Cobh Dermot McGovern – Old Crescent RFC Philip Stokes – Kinsale RFC Gethin Lewis – Highfield RFC Jim Murphy – Cork Constitution FC Chris Cullinan – Crescent College Comprehensive Garrett McCabe – Clonakilty RFC David Glynn – Kilrush RFC Aidan Mulvihill – Listowel RFC CONNACHT Stephen Parkinson – Coláiste Iognáid Colin Cooper – Sancta Maria Louisburgh Gerry Coen – Corrib RFC Niall Finnerty – Portumna Rugby Club Noel Mannion – Balllinasloe RFC Brian Harte – Galway Bay Rugby Club John Hardiman – OLBC Michael Loftus – Marist College, Buccaneers RFC Mary Lydon – Connemara RFC Bernie Huxford – Calasanctius College Jimmy Coen – Dunmore RFC Johnny McCormack – Castlebar RFC Michael Silke – Buccaneers RFC Padraic McGann – Monivea Rugby Club Gerry Kelly – Garbally College, Ballinasloe Brian Mullan – Sligo RFC Stuart Baker – St. Joseph’s College, Galway Catherine Collins – Galway Corinthians RFC Michael Deacy – Galwegians RFC Alan Rowe – Ballina RFC Gearóid Ó Broin – University of Galway RFC Gerry O’Donnell (posthumous) – Ballina RFC Ciaran McBrien – Carrick on Shannon RFC Sean Higgins – Tuam RFC Kieran Dowd – Creggs RFC Liz Brady – Westport RFC LEINSTER John Hammond – UCD RFC Dr Bill Twomey – Terenure College RFC Irene O’Byrne – Tullow RFC Fleur Moran – Bridgetown College Seamus Doyle – New Ross RFC Tom Crotty – County Carlow FC Dermot O’Brien – St. Mary’s College RFC Richard (Richie) Fagan – Emerald Warriors RFC Stuart Hill – Ratoath RFC Thomas Walsh – Guinness Rugby Club Declan Keegan – Seapoint Rugby Club William (Willie) Moran – Suttonians RFC Fr Michael Sheil SJ – Clongowes Wood College SJ, Belvedere College SJ, Gonzaga College SJ, Mungret College Edward ‘Eddie’ Fitzgerald – MU Barnhall RFC, Old Belvedere, Belvedere College SJ Ray Dempsey – Roscrea RFC Bill Duggan – Ashbourne RFC, Leinster Rugby Mick Hennessey – Clane RFC Mick McCoy – Newbridge RFC Anthony ‘Tojo’ Walsh – Wexford Wanderers RFC Graham Jones (posthumous) – Liberty Saints RFC Monica Beresford – CYM Rugby Club Dave Hicks – De La Salle Palmerston FC Ian Harte – Arklow RFC Vincent Pierce – Rathdrum Rugby Club Dick Brady – Navan RFC, Lansdowne FC, Castleknock College ULSTER John McKinney – Campbell College Belfast Neil McIlwaine – Lurgan Rugby Club Willie Gribben – Portadown Michael Dickson (posthumous) – Carrickfergus Grammar School, Carrickfergus RFC, Malone RFC Tom Skelton (posthumous) – Dalriada School John O’Callaghan – Monaghan RFC William Boyd – Clogher Valley RFC John Merritt – Inishowen Rugby Club Nigel Smythe – Belfast High School Former Pupils Terry and Aly Finlay – Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, formerly Portora Royal School, Collegiate Grammar School Robbie Moore (posthumous) – Queens University Belfast Noel Conn – City of Armagh RFC Malachy McNally – Virginia RFC John Curry – Randalstown Rugby Club Des O’Donnell (posthumous) – Instonians RFC John Waide – Ballymoney RFC Rab Weir – Grosvenor RFC Peter Caldwell – Ballyclare RFC Crawford McConkey – Coleraine Rugby Football, Cricket and Hockey Club David Dodds – Banbridge RFC Alan McCully – Ulster University Coleraine Magee RFC Joe Carlisle (posthumous) – Ballynahinch RFC Keith Patton – Royal School Dungannon Phil Logan – Cooke RFC Barney McGonigle – Friends School, Lisburn, Ulster Rugby.