Blindsider.
3rd-January-2008, 09:59
<h4>News - Southern Star
</h4>
<h1>Skibbereen RFC clubhouse opened by Sir Anthony O’Reilly</h1>
<h2>@@@@SPAN ="author">
Saturday January 5th, 2008@@@@/SPAN></h2>
<div style="float: left;">
http://www.southernstar.ie/scripts/imgsize.phpw=300&img=../images/news/A33a.jpg
Sir
Anthony O’Reilly, centre, Skibbereen RFC club patron, seen cutting the
celebration cake to mark the official opening of the renovated
clubhouse. Others, from left: Liam O’Regan, PRO, John Field, committee,
Paddy Hurley, do., Alan Holmes, chairman, Linda Holmes and Alan Dodd,
president.
(Pic: Ann Minihane)
</div>
Skibbereen
Rugby Football Club which was re-formed in 1951, following a lapse of
activity since the late 1930s, had one of its proudest days on Saturday
last when the newly renovated and extended clubhouse was officially
opened by long-standing Club Patron Sir Anthony O’Reilly, former Irish
international and Lions tour player of renown and who, having a
long-time home in Glandore, is, as he said himself, no longer a West
Cork ‘blow in’.
Better known in rugby parlance as Tony O’Reilly, this
illustrious Irishman who, for many years, was chief executive of H.J.
Heinz, the American food conglomerate and is now head of Independent
News and Media with an international spread of newspaper titles,
delivered a scintillating address to a gathering of around two hundred
invited guests during which he regaled the audience with many stories
of rugby in his day and with relevance to modern times.
Skibbereen RFC was greatly honoured to have him for this
formal opening and the attendance also included former Irish
international John O’Meara, great scrum half of the late forties who
partnered the legendary Jack Kyle in the dual Triple Crown victories of
1947–8 and 1948–9 and who now has a home in the Baltimore area. Also
present was an outstanding international forward of more recent times,
Mick Molloy, official doctor to Irish teams more recently, who also has
a house locally in the Union Hall area.
Many other prominent rugby veterans were also present and
given that Sunday’s Well were providing the team opposition for the
Swanton Cup match, the strong Skibbereen connection with that club was
underlined in the attendance. A notable there was Bill Egar who played
senior for the ’Well over many years but who also played with
Skibbereen when here on Army duty. There were also other former seniors
in Joe Burns and Nealie Hourihane, to name a few.
Representing Sunday’s Well RFC was Billy Keating, president,
while Clonakilty RFC was represented by its president Pat Hogan. Bantry
RFC was represented by Neill Clarke, long-serving officer, and
Dunmanway RFC by president Harry Love, who, in his younger days, played
for Skibbereen club.
Among the political figures attending were Jim O’Keeffe, TD,
who also played rugby with Skibbereen , Paddy Sheehan, TD, Senator
Denis O’Donovan, Bantry, Tom Sheehan, chairman of Cork Co. Council, and
Brendan McCarthy, TC, Mayor of Skibbereen.
Acting as MC for the occasion was the club PRO Liam O’Regan
who welcomed everybody including the representatives of neighbouring
rugby clubs, Clonakilty, Bandon, Bantry and Dunmanway and also Sunday’s
Well RFC who provided the opposition for the Swanton Club match and
also two local sporting clubs O’Donovan Rossa GAA and Skibbereen Soccer
Club.
He particularly welcomed the esteemed Club Patron and guest of
honour Sir Anthony O’Reilly, former Irish rugby international and
outstanding international businessman who has a home in Glandore.
Continuing, he said that over decades many presidents and
chairmen had contributed enormously to the welfare of the club and ‘we
remember those who, from the 1951 foundat
</h4>
<h1>Skibbereen RFC clubhouse opened by Sir Anthony O’Reilly</h1>
<h2>@@@@SPAN ="author">
Saturday January 5th, 2008@@@@/SPAN></h2>
<div style="float: left;">
http://www.southernstar.ie/scripts/imgsize.phpw=300&img=../images/news/A33a.jpg
Sir
Anthony O’Reilly, centre, Skibbereen RFC club patron, seen cutting the
celebration cake to mark the official opening of the renovated
clubhouse. Others, from left: Liam O’Regan, PRO, John Field, committee,
Paddy Hurley, do., Alan Holmes, chairman, Linda Holmes and Alan Dodd,
president.
(Pic: Ann Minihane)
</div>
Skibbereen
Rugby Football Club which was re-formed in 1951, following a lapse of
activity since the late 1930s, had one of its proudest days on Saturday
last when the newly renovated and extended clubhouse was officially
opened by long-standing Club Patron Sir Anthony O’Reilly, former Irish
international and Lions tour player of renown and who, having a
long-time home in Glandore, is, as he said himself, no longer a West
Cork ‘blow in’.
Better known in rugby parlance as Tony O’Reilly, this
illustrious Irishman who, for many years, was chief executive of H.J.
Heinz, the American food conglomerate and is now head of Independent
News and Media with an international spread of newspaper titles,
delivered a scintillating address to a gathering of around two hundred
invited guests during which he regaled the audience with many stories
of rugby in his day and with relevance to modern times.
Skibbereen RFC was greatly honoured to have him for this
formal opening and the attendance also included former Irish
international John O’Meara, great scrum half of the late forties who
partnered the legendary Jack Kyle in the dual Triple Crown victories of
1947–8 and 1948–9 and who now has a home in the Baltimore area. Also
present was an outstanding international forward of more recent times,
Mick Molloy, official doctor to Irish teams more recently, who also has
a house locally in the Union Hall area.
Many other prominent rugby veterans were also present and
given that Sunday’s Well were providing the team opposition for the
Swanton Cup match, the strong Skibbereen connection with that club was
underlined in the attendance. A notable there was Bill Egar who played
senior for the ’Well over many years but who also played with
Skibbereen when here on Army duty. There were also other former seniors
in Joe Burns and Nealie Hourihane, to name a few.
Representing Sunday’s Well RFC was Billy Keating, president,
while Clonakilty RFC was represented by its president Pat Hogan. Bantry
RFC was represented by Neill Clarke, long-serving officer, and
Dunmanway RFC by president Harry Love, who, in his younger days, played
for Skibbereen club.
Among the political figures attending were Jim O’Keeffe, TD,
who also played rugby with Skibbereen , Paddy Sheehan, TD, Senator
Denis O’Donovan, Bantry, Tom Sheehan, chairman of Cork Co. Council, and
Brendan McCarthy, TC, Mayor of Skibbereen.
Acting as MC for the occasion was the club PRO Liam O’Regan
who welcomed everybody including the representatives of neighbouring
rugby clubs, Clonakilty, Bandon, Bantry and Dunmanway and also Sunday’s
Well RFC who provided the opposition for the Swanton Club match and
also two local sporting clubs O’Donovan Rossa GAA and Skibbereen Soccer
Club.
He particularly welcomed the esteemed Club Patron and guest of
honour Sir Anthony O’Reilly, former Irish rugby international and
outstanding international businessman who has a home in Glandore.
Continuing, he said that over decades many presidents and
chairmen had contributed enormously to the welfare of the club and ‘we
remember those who, from the 1951 foundat