An Insight into the Area We Live in

NEW COACHES FOR RUGBY CLUB BY CIARA BERESFORD
and Monkstown clubs in Leinster as well as Old Crescent in Munster.
Indeed he also donned the famous Taranaki shirt while living in New
Zealand. He won an AIL medal when playing with St. Marys. More
recently he has been involved as a Connacht Regional Development
Coach.
Ian welcomes the opportunity to coach at Ballinasloe who ply their
trade in Division 1A of the Connacht Junior league. ‘’This league is very
competitive’’ he says ‘’and there are some fine individual players involved
with a high skill set. I am very impressed with the set up here in and
especially with the number of underage players now making their way
on to the first team squad. League honours can’t be too far away’’ he adds.
The quietly spoken coach can be observed on match days standing
on the touchline with arms folded while he studiously reflects on
the action on the pitch. No doubt, he is pre planning tactics and
strategies for his pack that will in due course help Ballinasloe take
the next step forward. “Maybe that coveted league title is not that
far away after all.” Ian, a software engineer with VISTA TEC, resides
with his family in Portumna.
New coaches to the Rugby Panel; Mike Horan and Ian Bloomer.
Two new coaches have been appointed to the Ballinasloe
Rugby Club management team this season, to work
in tandem with Director of Rugby, Noel Mannion; a
forwards coach in addition to the return of former backs
coach, Mike Horan.
Fresh to the panel is Ian Bloomer, who takes over from Kevin Tierney
after the latter opted to do some mini coaching for a stretch. Ian
comes with a wealth of experience having seen service with St. Marys
Mike Horan is no stranger to his post having previously coached the
backs three seasons ago. A long-time member of the club, and is also
a past President. He took a busman’s holiday to coach the club’s U18’s
and Garbally College senior cup team while also being involved with
Connacht Regional Squads. He is impressed with the emerging talent in
the club’s backs. ‘’They are young’’ he says ’’but there is provincial, AIL and
third level college competition experience in the mix. It will take them a
while to bed in but I have no doubt that we will be hearing a lot about
these lads in the seasons to come.’’
‘’We have been very fortunate with the standard of coaches available
to our senior squad over the past four or five seasons’’ says Noel
Mannion. ‘’Certainly they have helped us to reach and maintain our
place in Division 1A. Right now Ballinasloe club are in a good place
coach wise’’ he concluded.
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