I am both proud and privileged to have been chosen as President of Terenure College RFC for the 2019/20 season. It is a great honour for me and my family and an even greater honour to follow in the footsteps of some truly great men who have gone before me, amongst them my late father in law Mr Se Connolly who also held this esteemed position.
Last year we had a roller coaster of a season and thankfully we remained in Division 1A, thanks to some heroic efforts post the “Christmas break”. To our new Head Coach, Mr Sean Skehan and his Coaching Team, “Welcome Aboard”. I wish all of you the very best in the season ahead and be assured of our full support and help if required.
To all “The Members”, our neighbours, visiting teams and their supporters, I look forward to welcoming you all for the season ahead. In particular I want to welcome and thank the match officials who join us week on week to ensure fairness on the pitch and the safety of our players at all times, remember “No Officials, No Game”.
I would like to congratulate our new Club Captain, Mr Patrick Thornton. On behalf of the members I wish you and your team every success throughout this long season. I have been on a wonderful “Rugby Journey” with Patrick since I was his coach at the age of 7, he has matured into a classy rugby player and a “Good Friend” – best of luck Budge!!!!!!
To all our teams in the Metro Divisions, including our Under 20’s, our numerous “Junior” sides, Vets (when wheeled out), the boys and girls at Minis and Youth levels, your amazing coaches, mangers/manageress’s and all the volunteers who turn up week after week, I wish you all the best in the coming season. Don’t worry I won’t be a stranger, sure what else would you be doing on a Sunday morning before a “Sneaky Pint” or two.
Terenure College RFC is a truly amateur club, where all members get stuck in for the love of “Lakelands”. However, if we didn’t have our sponsors, we would completely struggle to continue providing the top-class facilities we now have at our disposal. I would personally like to thank our Main Club Sponsor H&K International, with particular thanks to Mr David Bobbett and his colleagues for their continued support.
To Sherry Fitzgerald Group, thank you also for your support and generosity again this year. And a very special welcome and thank you to Dundrum Town Centre, Mr Don Nugent Centre Director and his team for coming on board as sponsors of our Mini & Youth Rugby Section – your involvement this year is amazing and we look forward to building our relationship to the mutual benefit of both parties.
Additional thanks to our numerous sponsors, who support us through hoardings, our yearbook, mini calendar, under-age tours and the various social events we have throughout the year.
To our ground, bar and administration staff – thanks guys, we couldn’t do it without you!!!!
Finally, to Joanne, Robbie, Jamie and Kate, thank you for supporting me on this “Crazy Journey”. You guys are “My Rock” and without you none of this would have been possible.
See you all in the “Nure”
Paul Murphy
President Terenure College RFC 2019/20