Rugby Visit to the West of Ireland
St Bede’s first Rugby Tour of Connacht hailed a great success
Team Photo - Click to enlarge
The College’s historic first Rugby tour of the ‘West of Ireland’ during the February half term was hailed a great success. The mixed team of under fourteen’s and under fifteen’s were undefeated in their two matches against ‘Ballina’ and ‘Castlebar’. The teams trip to Ireland had received coverage in ‘The Irish Post’ and Mayo’s ‘Western People’ as well as airtime on Irish radio shows in Manchester and Mayo. Friends and relatives of the team came out to show their support at both games.
Despite arriving just minutes before their first game against Ballina after a delay at Manchester Airport the team won the match by 31 points to 7 points. Their second game the next day was against ‘Castlebar’, after a good night’s sleep and a ‘Full Irish Breakfast’ the team won their second match by a score of 50 points to 5 points.
The squad of twenty two fourteen and fifteen year old boys were joined by Head of Boys PE at the College — Kevin Rafferty, their coaches Mike Nally and John Devitt and Tony Hennigan who acted as the team’s official photographer.
During their stay in the region of Ireland the team stayed in the seaside resort of Enniscrone at the newly opened luxurious ‘Ocean Sands Hotel’ just outside Ballina. The hotel is owned by one of Mr Rafferty’s uncles - Michael McKeigue. Mr McKeigue went out of his way to look after the boys and staff, he arranged a professional photo shoot from a journalist with national media contacts. The staff were also invited to attend a meal with an Archdeacon and Monsignor from Ballina.
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Full use was made of the areas unspoilt beach with organised team games by the staff at Sunset each evening. Trips were also arranged to the holy shrine of ‘Croagh Patrick’ and a shopping trip in Westport. On Saturday evening the entire squad and staff attended mass in Enniscrone where they were made welcome by the Parish Priest and congregation. While in Castlebar the team enjoyed an afternoon of sport watching a GAA Game of football between Mayo and Donegal.
Another relative of Kevin Rafferty — ‘John Forde’ who played for Mayo’s ALL Ireland GAA winning team in the 1950’s came to visit the team at the hotel and happily posed for photographs with the students.
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The teams Rugby kit and Polo shirts were sponsored by Mr And Mrs Mulhern (Pat Mulhern Civil Engineers) the parents of Patrick Mulhern who was one of the team players.
Kevin Rafferty the head of Boys PE said “The team were a credit to St Bedes College and excelled on and off the field. We enjoyed a wealth of Irish hospitality from both of the teams that we played and we hope to make this an annual trip.”
Special thanks to Ballina Rugby Club officials – Arthur West (The President of the club), Niall Jennings (Coach) and Gerry O’Donnell. Also to Danny Cunningham (Castlebar Rugby Club) for hosting the fixtures and their generous hospitality.