St Mary's College RFC Yearbook 2020-21

Matt, Jack Ebbs
(President
2018-2019),
Sean Lynch and
Tom Browne.
fortunately for the club became and is still
the archivist. All the photos seen on the walls
(most taken over decades, by the dedicated
and talented Jim Maguire, now John Pyne is
the snapper) were arranged and kept by Matt
and recently he has had all of these and the
club records put on disc for posterity.
He was, with other great Marys’ men (Paddy
himself to the fore), Bill Fagan, Paddy
Fearon, the late John O’Donoghue and Joe
Fanagan involved in the important developmental
moves which ensured the healthy
progress and status of the club. Firstly, in
1955 when we moved from rented Kimmage
Grove to much loved College Drive (Fortfield
Road) and later to Templeville Road. He was
also intimately involved in the superb
development of the nineties and again
closely scrutinised the exciting addition of
gym facilities etc.
It will be recalled that recently Matt was
seriously ill (now thankfully fully recovered)
and after that illness he decided to step
down from his role as trustee, which he had
fulfilled with assiduous care for 52 years (no
it is not a misprint it was 52 years). It is
impossible to see anyone ever repeating
that. He had been appointed to this highest
post with the great fathers of the club
including Paddy Branagan, Charlie Wilson
and Jimmy Ganter, when he was in his early
twenties, which shows the respect in which
he was held at even that early stage.
Through the dissertation by Paddy, of course
Matt was acutely mortified, but did respond
and thanked Paddy, he said how most of all
he could not have done any of the things he
did without the strong support and active
encouragement of his wonderful wife Breda.
He also said that the things he did, he did
with great love of the club and it was an
honour for him to do them.
We were treated to a, now sadly rare,
glimpse of Liam Birkett’s wry wit when he
said a few words (a few of Liam’s words are
enough) and then he and Matt Jones
brought in an impressive reclining chair,
which they had organised and purchased, it
was presented to Matt ( he hopes it is for his
reclining not declining years). The evening
was very well organised by Brian (Spike)
Fanning and enjoyed by all.
It is not really possible to quantify or value
highly enough the work that Matt has done in
every role, as a quiet effective ambassador
for the club and a revered figure of personification
of our club. It is worth noting that all
extant past presidents, except for those living
abroad or indisposed, were in attendance for
this lovely night, when his peers paid due
respect to a true hero of St Mary’s.
D O’Brien
75