St Mary's College RFC Yearbook 2020-21

O’Connor Cup (J5) Winners 1992
Back Row: Brendan (Reg) Foley, Alan Cooke, Paul Chew, John Boyle, Keith Jones, Peter Byrne, Conor Cooke.
Front Row: Darren Walker, An Other, Paul Glynn (Captain), Liam Birkett (President), Enda O’Riordain,
CJ McHenry, Bobby O’Connor.
developments that have seen our club
become one of the foremost and successful
in the entire island; including producing
more British and Irish players than any other
club. He served on the executive committee
and was president during season 1991-92. He
has been a very active trustee now for ten
years. He and his fellow trustees, Brendan,
Brian and JB have a particularly effective
and harmonious relationship, as they guard
our financial stability. He has been involved
in valuable fundraising efforts and has
donated generously from his own resources.
He has been the club after-dinner speaker
on a number of occasions, with his sharp,
understated wit, being very popular. During
his presidential year, he spoke at seven
Leinster club dinners. As late as our last club
dinner, he gave the toast to the guests. With
all that practice, he now speaks almost
fluent English!
Outside of his club involvements, he has had
a most successful social, family and business
life. Liam formed a design and marketing
company, Bernardini, Birkett and Gardner.
He is an expert on intellectual properties and
trademarks. He created corporate identity
and marketing projects for companies such
as, Smurfit, K Club and Waterford Foods.
Liam was too, managing director of O’Darby
cream liqueur. This he launched on 17 world
markets, before selling the company to the
Bacardi Corporation. Cheers! He was a
consultant to Peoples Republic of China
advising on design and marketing to the
West. (We won’t tell Trump) and when on an
EU experts panel he was chosen by the
European Commission to introduce the
Community Trade Mark and Euro to some of
the new entrant countries. Amongst his
other achievements are: Past President and
fellow of the Irish Design Institute and held
officer roles with charities, MS, Deaf and
Garda. He continues to do consultancy work
and is a mentor with many of the Local
Enterprise Offices. He keeps fit and active
during the Covid-19, and with a sharp mind,
he is never bored although he cannot
indulge his epicurean tastes with visits to
restaurants.
Liam is extremely affable, so any of you who
see him up at the matches or at functions do
greet him with Liam, do I know you ? You
will then, and be glad you do.
D.O’Brien
85