As President of Sligo RFC in this historic season, it …...As President of Sligo RFC in this...
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Transcript of As President of Sligo RFC in this historic season, it …...As President of Sligo RFC in this...
As President of Sligo RFC in this historic season, it is an honour and a pleasure
to welcome Highfield RFC to Hamilton Park for the fifth match of our Ulster
Bank League campaign.
Highfield come to Sligo with a great pedigree in AIL rugby and alickadoos from
both sides may remember the two clubs clashing in the AIL div 4 in the late 90’s.
Although divided by almost the length of the country, historically, there are a
number of links between the two clubs! One of Sligo’s most well known members,
Mick Lucey, served his time in the hooking role for Highfield before moving to
Sligo, where he made an immediate effect and has been an integral part of Sligo
RFC since.
A work colleague of Mick’s, Harry Madson, who recently sat as President of
Highfield RFC, resided in Sligo in the early 80’s and lined out at outhalf for
Sligo during his time in the northwest.
Former Highfield player, Pearce Power, coached Sligo in the AIL during the 90’s
and David Leonard, who so successfully served as first team manager for Sligo
last season, played at underage level for the Leeside club.
The historic links between the clubs will hopefully prove an omen for a great spec-
tacle today.
Our club has embraced the new challenges posed by AIL qualification and would
not be in this position without the excellent work being carried out by our volun-
teers, fundraisers and coaches. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all
of the people who tirelessly carry out the work that keeps our club alive.
In this difficult economic climate, the club’s finances are even more important
and we are very fortunate to have such generous and sup-
portive sponsors, and I urge everyone to repay this faith
whenever possible.
I wish our senior coach Simon Galvan, manager Dominic
Storey, Captain Paddy Pearson and their squad the very
best of luck in today’s game.
Finally, while I will be rooting for a Sligo win today, I
would like to wish out visitors the best of luck in the rest
of their campaign.
John Kane
President Sligo RFC
President John Kane,
It is a great honour for me as President of Highfield RFC to be asked to write a
few words for your programme.
The history of Sligo RFC is for us an amazing story which is, to date, over 120
years in the making and still going strong.
To keep a club in existence for so long is a daunting task and it only proves to all
that your founding members knew of the dedication and willpower that would be
displayed by all who followed in their footsteps.
We in Highfield are only too well aware of the pitfalls that await clubs but we also
had the determination to fight on when all seemed lost.
I look forward to our visit and hope that the match will be injury free and enjoy-
able for the followers of both sides.
Best regards to all,
Liam O’Donovan
President Highfield RFC
As President of Sligo RFC in this historic season, it is an honour and a pleasure
to welcome Highfield RFC to Hamilton Park for the fifth match of our Ulster
Bank League campaign.
Highfield come to Sligo with a great pedigree in AIL rugby and alickadoos from
both sides may remember the two clubs clashing in the AIL div 4 in the late 90’s.
Although divided by almost the length of the country, historically, there are a
number of links between the two clubs! One of Sligo’s most well known members,
Mick Lucey, served his time in the hooking role for Highfield before moving to
Sligo, where he made an immediate effect and has been an integral part of Sligo
RFC since.
A work colleague of Mick’s, Harry Madson, who recently sat as President of
Highfield RFC, resided in Sligo in the early 80’s and lined out at outhalf for
Sligo during his time in the northwest.
Former Highfield player, Pearce Power, coached Sligo in the AIL during the 90’s
and David Leonard, who so successfully served as first team manager for Sligo
last season, played at underage level for the Leeside club.
The historic links between the clubs will hopefully prove an omen for a great spec-
tacle today.
Our club has embraced the new challenges posed by AIL qualification and would
not be in this position without the excellent work being carried out by our volun-
teers, fundraisers and coaches. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all
of the people who tirelessly carry out the work that keeps our club alive.
In this difficult economic climate, the club’s finances are even more important
and we are very fortunate to have such generous and sup-
portive sponsors, and I urge everyone to repay this faith
whenever possible.
I wish our senior coach Simon Galvan, manager Dominic
Storey, Captain Paddy Pearson and their squad the very
best of luck in today’s game.
Finally, while I will be rooting for a Sligo win today, I
would like to wish out visitors the best of luck in the rest
of their campaign.
John Kane
President Sligo RFC
President John Kane,
It is a great honour for me as President of Highfield RFC to be asked to write a
few words for your programme.
The history of Sligo RFC is for us an amazing story which is, to date, over 120
years in the making and still going strong.
To keep a club in existence for so long is a daunting task and it only proves to all
that your founding members knew of the dedication and willpower that would be
displayed by all who followed in their footsteps.
We in Highfield are only too well aware of the pitfalls that await clubs but we also
had the determination to fight on when all seemed lost.
I look forward to our visit and hope that the match will be injury free and enjoy-
able for the followers of both sides.
Best regards to all,
Liam O’Donovan
President Highfield RFC
HIGHFIELD RFC TEAM SHEET
D. O’Callaghan
J. O’Callaghan
D. O’Hea
J. Carton
R. Bogue (Captain)
J. Murphy
D. Kelly
M. Power
D. Keogh
C. Touhy
R. Lankford
G. French
F. O’Sullivan
K. Foyle
D. Buckley-Barry
M. O’Driscoll
R. Jacobs
C. Mahony
R. Childs
J. Sheehan
P. Stack
B. O’Hea
SLIGO RFC TEAM SHEET
01. Thomas Ferrari
02. Ross Mannion
03. Adrian McHale
04. Jamie Bowes
05. James Wilson
06. Paddy Conlon
07. Rory Kerins
08. Aidan McNulty
09. Billy Leahy
10. Paddy Pearson (Captain)
11. Hugo Lafitte
12. Mataele Fifita
13. Gavin Foley
14. David Gerrity
15. Daniel Hawkins
16. David Roe
17. Gary Conneely
18. Peter Mullan
19. Cathal Culhane
20. Gary O’Hehir
HIGHFIELD RFC TEAM SHEET
D. O’Callaghan
J. O’Callaghan
D. O’Hea
J. Carton
R. Bogue (Captain)
J. Murphy
D. Kelly
M. Power
D. Keogh
C. Touhy
R. Lankford
G. French
F. O’Sullivan
K. Foyle
D. Buckley-Barry
M. O’Driscoll
R. Jacobs
C. Mahony
R. Childs
J. Sheehan
P. Stack
B. O’Hea
SLIGO RFC TEAM SHEET
01. Thomas Ferrari
02. Ross Mannion
03. Adrian McHale
04. Jamie Bowes
05. James Wilson
06. Paddy Conlon
07. Rory Kerins
08. Aidan McNulty
09. Billy Leahy
10. Paddy Pearson (Captain)
11. Hugo Lafitte
12. Mataele Fifita
13. Gavin Foley
14. David Gerrity
15. Daniel Hawkins
16. David Roe
17. Gary Conneely
18. Peter Mullan
19. Cathal Culhane
20. Gary O’Hehir
SponsorsSponsors
The Glasshouse Hotel
Cosgrove’s Centra Maugheraboy
SponsorsSponsors
The Glasshouse Hotel
Cosgrove’s Centra Maugheraboy
Message to Sligo RFC from John Hussey, President, IRFU.
I am delighted to express my congratulations to Sligo RFC on its
success of qualifying as a senior club to play in the Ulster Bank
League.
The notable achievement of promotion as Connacht junior champi-
ons underlines the clubs progress and ambitions and I wish Presi-
dent John Kane and all members of the club every further success.
Sligo RFC’s arrival in Irish rugby’s foremost inter-club competi-
tion coincides with the introduction of an exciting new format for
the Ulster Bank League.
I believe it will prove to be a very popular concept and that it will
generate great interest and activity in the clubs on match days.
This would be in keeping with the wishes of the IRFU, whose pol-
icy is to maintain a vibrant club scene. In this regard I would like
to pay tribute to all our volunteers. They make an invaluable con-
tribution to the success of the game and in the current economic
circumstances their role is even more important.
I also sincerely thank Ulster Bank, the official
Community Partner to the IRFU, for their
sponsorship of the Ulster bank League, the
Irish Club international team and the Ulster
Bank Rugby Force initiative.
John Hussey.
President – IRFU.
With the 2010/2011 Ulster Bank League complete, the attention quickly turns
from the post mortem of the past campaign to the season ahead - a chance for
all clubs to start on the same foot and challenge for new honours in the
2011/2012 Ulster Bank League in their division.
Rugby at the professional level will always receive the highest profile, but a
growing and vibrant club league is crucial to the ongoing success of the sport.
Local clubs and club players are the life-blood of the game and the Ulster Bank
League in 2011/2012 will no doubt showcase some of the stars of the future
senior international scene.
Ulster Bank strengthened its link with Irish Rugby last year, becoming the Of-
ficial Community Partner to the IRFU, a partnership which includes title spon-
sorship of the All-Ireland Club League along with the Irish Club International
team until 2014.
Our drive into the heart of rugby in Ireland, into the club and the community,
was highlighted with the creation last year of a new club volunteer initiative,
Ulster Bank RugbyForce, a programme designed to help unite club members
and local volunteers to improve their club and community rugby facilities. An
excellent response saw clubs from all over the country enter with four lucky
clubs winning €5,000 worth of goods and resources. The four winning clubs
(Wexford Wanderers RFC, Ballina RFC, Thomond RFC and Ballymoney
Rugby Club) took part in the recent Ulster Bank RugbyForce Winning Week-
ends, which brought together their members to spend the day renovating their
facilities. See www.ulsterbank.com/rugby for more
details and look out for your chance to enter your
club in next season’s Ulster Bank RugbyForce pro-
gramme.
We are greatly looking forward to next season and
wish all competing teams the very best of luck.
Ellvena Graham, Director of Business Services Ireland, Ulster Bank.
Message to Sligo RFC from John Hussey, President, IRFU.
I am delighted to express my congratulations to Sligo RFC on its
success of qualifying as a senior club to play in the Ulster Bank
League.
The notable achievement of promotion as Connacht junior champi-
ons underlines the clubs progress and ambitions and I wish Presi-
dent John Kane and all members of the club every further success.
Sligo RFC’s arrival in Irish rugby’s foremost inter-club competi-
tion coincides with the introduction of an exciting new format for
the Ulster Bank League.
I believe it will prove to be a very popular concept and that it will
generate great interest and activity in the clubs on match days.
This would be in keeping with the wishes of the IRFU, whose pol-
icy is to maintain a vibrant club scene. In this regard I would like
to pay tribute to all our volunteers. They make an invaluable con-
tribution to the success of the game and in the current economic
circumstances their role is even more important.
I also sincerely thank Ulster Bank, the official
Community Partner to the IRFU, for their
sponsorship of the Ulster bank League, the
Irish Club international team and the Ulster
Bank Rugby Force initiative.
John Hussey.
President – IRFU.
With the 2010/2011 Ulster Bank League complete, the attention quickly turns
from the post mortem of the past campaign to the season ahead - a chance for
all clubs to start on the same foot and challenge for new honours in the
2011/2012 Ulster Bank League in their division.
Rugby at the professional level will always receive the highest profile, but a
growing and vibrant club league is crucial to the ongoing success of the sport.
Local clubs and club players are the life-blood of the game and the Ulster Bank
League in 2011/2012 will no doubt showcase some of the stars of the future
senior international scene.
Ulster Bank strengthened its link with Irish Rugby last year, becoming the Of-
ficial Community Partner to the IRFU, a partnership which includes title spon-
sorship of the All-Ireland Club League along with the Irish Club International
team until 2014.
Our drive into the heart of rugby in Ireland, into the club and the community,
was highlighted with the creation last year of a new club volunteer initiative,
Ulster Bank RugbyForce, a programme designed to help unite club members
and local volunteers to improve their club and community rugby facilities. An
excellent response saw clubs from all over the country enter with four lucky
clubs winning €5,000 worth of goods and resources. The four winning clubs
(Wexford Wanderers RFC, Ballina RFC, Thomond RFC and Ballymoney
Rugby Club) took part in the recent Ulster Bank RugbyForce Winning Week-
ends, which brought together their members to spend the day renovating their
facilities. See www.ulsterbank.com/rugby for more
details and look out for your chance to enter your
club in next season’s Ulster Bank RugbyForce pro-
gramme.
We are greatly looking forward to next season and
wish all competing teams the very best of luck.
Ellvena Graham, Director of Business Services Ireland, Ulster Bank.
ULSTER BANK ALL IRELAND LEAGUE - DIVISION 2B
Home team Away Team Wk No. Date
Sligo v Boyne 1 Saturday 1st October
Navan v Sligo 2 Saturday 8th October
Sligo v Nenagh Ormond 3 Saturday 15th October
City of Armagh v Sligo 4 Saturday 29th October
Sligo v Highfield 5 Saturday 5th November
Naas v Sligo 6 Saturday 26th November
Wanderers v Sligo 7 Saturday 3rd December
Sligo v Rainey Old Boys 8 Saturday 10th December
Ards v Sligo 9 Saturday 28th January
Sligo v Cashel 10 Saturday 4th February
Banbridge v Sligo 11 Saturday 18th February
Suttonians v Sligo 12 Saturday 3rd March
Sligo v Connemara 13 Saturday 24th March
NUIM Barnhall v Sligo 14 Saturday 31st March
Sligo v Sunday's Well 15 Saturday 14th April
Play Offs Saturday 21st April
ULSTER BANK ALL IRELAND LEAGUE - DIVISION 2B
Home team Away Team Wk No. Date
Sligo v Boyne 1 Saturday 1st October
Navan v Sligo 2 Saturday 8th October
Sligo v Nenagh Ormond 3 Saturday 15th October
City of Armagh v Sligo 4 Saturday 29th October
Sligo v Highfield 5 Saturday 5th November
Naas v Sligo 6 Saturday 26th November
Wanderers v Sligo 7 Saturday 3rd December
Sligo v Rainey Old Boys 8 Saturday 10th December
Ards v Sligo 9 Saturday 28th January
Sligo v Cashel 10 Saturday 4th February
Banbridge v Sligo 11 Saturday 18th February
Suttonians v Sligo 12 Saturday 3rd March
Sligo v Connemara 13 Saturday 24th March
NUIM Barnhall v Sligo 14 Saturday 31st March
Sligo v Sunday's Well 15 Saturday 14th April
Play Offs Saturday 21st April
VOLUNTEER PROFILE
A new feature to the match day program is the Volunteer Profile
page. Every Club struggles to get new volunteers involved, yet no club
could function without them. Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes
and with varying degrees of commitment to the club. It takes a lot of
effort from a lot of people to run a club and it is only with the gener-
osity of peoples time that this can happen at all.
Within each club there are players, coaches, managers, referee’s,
grounds persons, house persons, bar manager, bar staff and a wide
range of administrative volunteers on various committee’s. It is with
dedication and service to the club that all of these roles get filled year
in year out.
The club is constantly looking for new volunteers and there is no job
too big or too small, we will always find some place for you to help
out.
So if you are a player, supporter, parent or friend of Sligo RFC and
would like to get involved please fill out our Volunteer form and re-
turn it to our volunteer co-ordinator Jonathan Hill.
Now follows the second of our volunteer profiles.
VOLUNTEER PROFILE
Justin Harte
Justin Harte’s interest in club rugby began when his eldest
son Darran lined out for under 7 training in September
2003. Thankfully for Sligo RFC, Darran took to the game
like the proverbial duck to water, and Justin was hooked!
He immediately offered his services to the Juvenile Section
of the club and soon became and important member of
the U7’s coaching team.
As Darran progressed through the age grades, the word about Justin’s enthusiasm and skill
set spread, and it was not long before he was integrated into many other sections of the
club. In typically selfless fashion, Justin put 100% into everything for the club and soon he
was working with the development committee, the house committee and the fundraising
committee while still holding down his coaching role with the Juvenile Section.
Justin’s trojan work was recognised in 2006 when he was awarded Club-Person of the year
by then President Michael O’Hehir.
As is his way, he still continued to drive the club forward, and at this stage added the role
of teenage disco co-ordinator to his already full work load. It’s no surprise that the club
disco continues to provide a vital source of income for the club with Justin in charge.
Tag rugby has become an important part of Sligo rugby club in recent years and with the
house chairman hat on, Justin has been instrumental in upgrading the facilities at Stran-
dhill to ensure Tag is successful and enjoyable for everyone involved. He is also a regular
volunteer behind the bar during Tag nights.
In 2010 Justin became the only member to receive the Club-Person of the year award
twice when sitting President Brendan Leahy awarded him the honour for the second
time.
Every club thrives on family participation and Sligo are no
exception with Justin’s family showing the way! Justin’s
better half Noleen is an ever present figure at Saturday
morning Juvenile training, taking registrations and provid-
ing refreshments for all present. Noleen also organises
bus transport for the club. Daughter Joanne has manned
the water bar at the teenage disco and Darran and young-
est son Marc are always on hand to help with what needs
to be done in the club.
We are an extremely lucky club to have the Harte family involved!
Thank you Justin!
VOLUNTEER PROFILE
A new feature to the match day program is the Volunteer Profile
page. Every Club struggles to get new volunteers involved, yet no club
could function without them. Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes
and with varying degrees of commitment to the club. It takes a lot of
effort from a lot of people to run a club and it is only with the gener-
osity of peoples time that this can happen at all.
Within each club there are players, coaches, managers, referee’s,
grounds persons, house persons, bar manager, bar staff and a wide
range of administrative volunteers on various committee’s. It is with
dedication and service to the club that all of these roles get filled year
in year out.
The club is constantly looking for new volunteers and there is no job
too big or too small, we will always find some place for you to help
out.
So if you are a player, supporter, parent or friend of Sligo RFC and
would like to get involved please fill out our Volunteer form and re-
turn it to our volunteer co-ordinator Jonathan Hill.
Now follows the second of our volunteer profiles.
VOLUNTEER PROFILE
Justin Harte
Justin Harte’s interest in club rugby began when his eldest
son Darran lined out for under 7 training in September
2003. Thankfully for Sligo RFC, Darran took to the game
like the proverbial duck to water, and Justin was hooked!
He immediately offered his services to the Juvenile Section
of the club and soon became and important member of
the U7’s coaching team.
As Darran progressed through the age grades, the word about Justin’s enthusiasm and skill
set spread, and it was not long before he was integrated into many other sections of the
club. In typically selfless fashion, Justin put 100% into everything for the club and soon he
was working with the development committee, the house committee and the fundraising
committee while still holding down his coaching role with the Juvenile Section.
Justin’s trojan work was recognised in 2006 when he was awarded Club-Person of the year
by then President Michael O’Hehir.
As is his way, he still continued to drive the club forward, and at this stage added the role
of teenage disco co-ordinator to his already full work load. It’s no surprise that the club
disco continues to provide a vital source of income for the club with Justin in charge.
Tag rugby has become an important part of Sligo rugby club in recent years and with the
house chairman hat on, Justin has been instrumental in upgrading the facilities at Stran-
dhill to ensure Tag is successful and enjoyable for everyone involved. He is also a regular
volunteer behind the bar during Tag nights.
In 2010 Justin became the only member to receive the Club-Person of the year award
twice when sitting President Brendan Leahy awarded him the honour for the second
time.
Every club thrives on family participation and Sligo are no
exception with Justin’s family showing the way! Justin’s
better half Noleen is an ever present figure at Saturday
morning Juvenile training, taking registrations and provid-
ing refreshments for all present. Noleen also organises
bus transport for the club. Daughter Joanne has manned
the water bar at the teenage disco and Darran and young-
est son Marc are always on hand to help with what needs
to be done in the club.
We are an extremely lucky club to have the Harte family involved!
Thank you Justin!
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