St Mary's College RFC Yearbook 2020-21

PAUL MICHAEL DEAN – ‘DEANO’:
A ST. MARY’S GREAT
School Years
In the 50s and 60s we had an outstanding
and highly individual young man, James
Dean who fascinated the film world and in
70s and 80s we had an outstanding young
rugby player and person, Paul Dean who
fascinated and beguiled the rugby world.
Before that of course he had to enter the
world, and that he did on a warm summer’s
day in 1960 in Dublin. In 1967 as a seven year
old boy, he ventured down the road to St
Mary’s College at Rathmines, where he
enjoyed his time and excelled for 11 years,
leaving school in 1978. Sport was one of his
strongest points and at rugby he sparkled.
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) was
founded in 1875 and for its centenary in 1975,
the first schoolboys’ international games
were ventured upon. In both 1977 and 1978
Paul was the Irish outhalf, where he was a
star. In fact St Marys have produced superb
outhalves over its history, particularly. Sean
Cooke, Tony Ward, Paul Dean, Vinnie
Cunningham (centre/outhalf and current
president) and Jonathan Sexton. The latter
four being outstanding British and Irish
Lions)
Paul Dean
injured his knee in Australia, cutting down
his involvement and effectively ending his
playing career. That of course did not end his
contribution to Irish rugby.
His Clubs
When Paul left school he came straight up
the St Mary’s College RFC, then recently
relocated from College Drive to Templeville
Road and was an instant success. Over the
years different top players have been
inclined to have some special point of
excellence and although clearly Paul had a
brilliant all round game, he was endowed
with magical hands.
He enjoyed greatly his club rugby, all who
saw him did likewise, and as his game
developed he progressed to Leinster, which
team he captained and then in 1981 he was
capped for Ireland. He went on to play for
Ireland until 1989, gaining 32 caps. He was
part of the famous, Mick Doyle coached 1985
Triple Crown winning team. Then he was
selected for the British and Irish Lions’ tour
of Australia in 1989. Unfortunately, he
37
Meanwhile, his golfing acumen was
developing. While many golfers develop an
itch for the game, Paul developed to a
scratch golfer. He is a member of Blainroe
and Dun Laoghaire Golf Clubs He was captain
of Blainroe GC in 1992. He is still a top class
golfer. He only needs those three clubs!
Social and Personal
It wasn’t all rugby and golf, he found time to
marry the most personable Lorraine, who
has also contributed generously to St Marys
in many ways. And they both found time to
rear Holly, an HRC with PWC (sounds great);
and Conor, who at 22 is, like his father, a
highly talented outhalf who already has been
a very valuable dedicated St Marys player.
He is currently on a professional development
contract with Connacht. He stays in
touch with his club and it is hoped will in the
future at some time play for Marys again.