I would like to extend a warm and hearty welcome to all who pass through the gates of Parsontown during the season and indeed to all who visit our website and social media pages during the year.
It is an honour and a privilege for me and my family, to be President of NUIM Barnhall RFC for the 2014/15 season. There has been a tremendous amount of work done over the last number of years by countless individuals and this has seen us grow from strength to strength since our amalgamation with Maynooth University in 2010-2011. This has been acknowledged by many clubs and resulted in our club winning Leinster Senior Club of the year. A very proud moment for us indeed.
We also exceled on the rugby pitch last year with a great league run in 2A, and our first ever senior trophy. Our Premier B’s too, had a fantastic season winning Metro 2 and having their own League Cup win. Well done to Dennis, Eddie, Hogie, and Kirky with a special mention for Barry Dunne and Eoin O’Sullivan on leading their respective teams so well.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our teams well for the season, from the Premier A’s to the Expendables. I would like to wish all the captains and in particular Tom McKeown very successful seasons. I wish all our Mini’s under the guidance of Michael and his team all the very best for the season and the youths under George’s stewardship, the application that makes them all winners, I loo forward to seeing you soon in the Senior ranks. Last but by no means last up is the Ladies or The Babes as we endearingly call them. They had a tough year last year but after a very successful boot camp, I think the disappointment of last year will be confined to history. During the summer we ran Tag for Teens for a number of weeks, with a great take up by the local girls. So much so that this year, after an absence, we will be fielding a U 15’s Girls team. Well done Grainne and all involved.
It would be remiss of me not to mention our main club sponsors, Rye Valley Foods, Chemical Direct and Interface for the support they give the club and teams in particular. A modern day Rugby Club cannot exist without you. To Our Executive Committee, I would like to thank you on behalf of our members for your tireless work and I look forward to working with you all.
I do hope you enjoy your visit to us today, We pride ourselves on being friendly and welcoming. The ethos of rugby are the friendships that are made, on and off the pitch, and that last for a lifetime. So enjoy your stay with us awhile and I look forward to catching up with you the next time we meet.
Yours in Rugby+
Sam Cawley
President NUIM Barnhall RFC
Leinster Senior Club Of the Year 2014
