Athenry News & Views Spring 2026

Spring 2026

St. Stephen’s Day 1982 (Captains v Presidents)

Front Row: (left to right) Pat Blade, Martin Quinn. Middle Row: (left to right) Bobby Collins, ….Unknown.... Larry Murphy, Seamus Kearns, Ned Burns. Back Row: (left to right) John Connor, John Quinn, Johnny Connolly, Seamus Quinn, Joe Dunne, Padraic Lyons, Damien Courtney, Sean Murphy and Sean Cleary. Front Row: (left to right) Paddy Conneely, John Costello. Middle Row: (left to right) John Quinn, Noel Earls, John Concarr, Willie Hynes, Ger Cooke, Sean Finn. Back Row: (left to right) Noel Flaherty, Gerry Moore, Donal Kennedy, Jodie Flaherty, Tony Keady, Kevin Connolly, Pat Fitzpatrick and John Murphy.

In the mid-1980s, Eddie O’Sullivan assisted with coaching, while Pat Byrne of Byrne Mech in Athenry made a vital contribution by helping install floodlighting at the grounds. This transformed training and allowed night matches, drawing larger crowds. The breakthrough came in 1991, when Monivea RFC won the Connacht Junior Cup - its first major success. Pat Byrne was Club President, Noel Flaherty captained the side and Dick O’Hanlon was coach. By then, the Club fielded three junior teams and underage sides at every level, with over 100 children involved in mini rugby each week. Players were progressing to representative rugby and the Club actively supported rugby in local schools through coaching and refereeing, with assistance from the Connacht Branch of the IRFU. From modest beginnings under a single light bulb, Monivea RFC had become a thriving Community Club - built on commitment, camaraderie and sheer persistence.

another highlight, blowing away festive cobwebs before quickly replacing them again. The Isle of Man Tour In 1979, Padraic McGann organised a tour to the Isle of Man, an inspired move that proved transformative. Players and supporters (“allicados”) travelled together, joined by friends from other clubs with Monivea connections. Everyone was issued with blazers, ties and kit bags bearing the club colours - a major bonding exercise, even if it made finding your socks a challenge. We assembled at Dublin Airport looking immaculate, only to hear over the PA that our flight had been delayed due to bad weather. The cheer that followed said it all. Several hours later, after cards and refreshments, we boarded a small twin-prop aircraft and eventually landed in Douglas under challenging conditions. That tour gave the Club credibility, lifted morale and attracted new players. Shortly afterwards, Michael Concarr and I built the Club’s first scrummaging machine in a shed in Athenry, an essential training tool for many years. Growth and Success The early 1980s saw the formation of the mini-rugby section, driven by Padraic McGann’s tireless work visiting schools and encouraging young players to attend Saturday morning sessions. This became the feeder system for the junior teams and laid the foundations for future success.

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