St Mary's College RFC Yearbook 2020-21

WELCOME MESSAGE
FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT
Dear fellow members and supporters,
I am indeed delighted and privileged to have been elected
President of St Mary’s College Rugby Football Club for the
2020-21 season.
It is a particularly special honour for me as my late father
John was also President (1998 -1999). The late, great Matt
Gilsenan and his son John being the only other father and
son Presidents.
I have said on many occasions that I believe that this club
of ours is among the best in Ireland, boasting as it does, a
clubhouse, a gym and other facilities which are second to
none. Our many dedicated volunteers help to make it so
by their tireless work in so many aspects, continuing, as
they do, the much-envied club tradition of rugby
excellence. The welcoming hospitality of our members is also
hugely admired by the many visitors to our club.
Our successes are evident at all playing levels, from our 1st XV,
through our Junior teams, our Youths and Minis.
Down through the years the club has produced 12 British and Irish
Lions (including a captain); 33 Men’s internationals (including 6
captains); 13 Women’s internationals (including a captain).
Our administrators have worked in the Leinster Branch (including
3 Presidents) and the IRFU (including 1 President).
As we are committed to maintaining the great traditions and
legacies of our predecessors, it places the responsibility on all of
us to ensure that we hand over our club to the next generation in
as good condition, if not better, than that which we inherited.
The Covid 19 pandemic has presented all of us with varying
degrees of uncertainty in our daily lives. In the life of the club, this
manifests itself with a set of many challenges, the greatest of
which is financial. Fundraising, as we have come to know, it will
be severely curtailed as customary events will not take place.
Therefore, we should all commit to helping the club by signing up
for our brand-new Monthly Draw for just €10 per month and a
guaranteed prize of €1,000! The Draw will also include
attendance prizes and promotions and will be held in the Bar on
the 3rd Friday of each month beginning on Friday, September
18th. By participating you will help to defray the many expenses
of our great club. So please sign up now by downloading the new
App ClubZap.
Yours sincerely in rugby
VINNIE CUNNINGHAM
President, St. Mary’s College RFC, 2020-2021
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