St Mary's College RFC Yearbook 2020-21

Is it Hereditary?
Matt and John – Presidents in their times
It has been rightly stressed that last season’s
marvellous AIL success was due not only to the
present squad, coaches, management and
administration but also to those preceding
them for several years then maybe this line
goes back even further in the case of
presidents, for last season’s president, John
Gilsenan is son of one of our most illustrious
members and a previous president in 1975-77,
Matt Gilsenan; and John is the first member to
be a son of a former president. Matt joined St
Marys in 1948, straight from St Mary’s College
and immediately made his mark by captaining
a J3 team to win that season’s Moran Cup. He
went on to captain the senior team (1953-55)
and lead the club on it maiden club tour to Italy
in 1955, sadly injury ended his playing career,
however he became a top quality referee for
many years and he was to become even more
valuable to the club by being a trustee,from the
age of 25 until recently and serving on serial
committees over many years and being
involved in all the major changes and
developments in the club’s history including
playing a pivotal role, alongside his great
friends Paddy Bolger, Brian Whelan, Vinno Mc
Govern and Bill Fagan, in the major move from
College Drive to Templeville Road. He has
always been a major influence in infusing the
club with its ethos and developing the club
culture. He is an honorary life member and is
greatly revered and admired. His wife Breda
has been a wonderful support to him and to
her son, which is no surprise to anyone who
knows that admirable lady; she too is of course
from a strong rugby tradition.
It was a pleasure all season to see Matt’s close
relationship with all involved and particularly his
and all the family’s support for John, it was clear
that he and Breda enjoyed totally the season
and all the associated rugby and social functions.
John also, has had a long and distinguished
career at St Mary’s and he too is a past pupil of
St Mary’s College, leaving in 1980 and after a
spell at his University (UCD), he came home to
St Marys and played for the club at junior level.
In the early 1990s, he was involved in team
management and was the club honorary
treasurer from 1995 to 1999. He and his father
have another thing in common, Matt was a
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John and Matt Gilsenan
director of Murray-Hertz and John is also
involved in cars, being a director of Porsche
Ireland; shows they both have great drive. John
had strong support from his family, with his
wife Micheline and son Conor closely and
generously involved in the season’s calendar.
No president has worked harder, as he
attended his duties assiduously and he worked
unremittingly throughout the year showing
initiative and imagination. He was vitally
supported and helped by his officers and
committee and especially so by his vicepresident
Michael Fanagan (one of another
outstanding St Mary’s family and nephew of
former captain and president, Joe Fanagan),
his junior vice-president the ubiquitous Steven
Hennessy and his predecessor Ronnie McBrien.
No doubt, John and his family shall remain
intimately involved in the future affairs and
direction of the club.
Interestingly, this year our club captain, the
most admired Richard Sweeney, is son of a
previous great club captain and president
James (JB) Sweeney and is the first son of a
former captain, to captain the club.
Maybe it is genetic, in the DNA, maybe our club
has a strain of loyalty, ability and dedication,
which is in its genome, transferable through
generations. Let us hope.
D O’Brien