Dream come true for young rugby star

A young future rugby star from Ennis got to meet his heroes when he paid a visit to a Munster rugby training session recently.

12-year-old Damien Galvin, a fifth class student at Ennis Educate Together and a player with Ennis Rugby Club told us he was “just in shock” when he got to meet his idol Doug Howlett.

Damien was even presented with some Munster gear and had his photo taken with the team, who were very impressed to hear how well his rugby skills are coming along.
The youngster’s dream came true after his teacher Michelle O’Halloran wrote a letter to the Munster squad explaining his love of the game. Damien was amazed when the team replied that they would be delighted to have him come along to a training session at the University of Limerick.

“It was very good and very exciting. I’ve been playing rugby for about five years and it’s great. I hope that I will be able to play for Munster some day,” he said.

Damien’s mother Linda Donoghue added, “It was very good of the school to do something like this for him, it is just unreal. They are a small school but there have been some very big achievements. Damian is doing very well with the rugby and for him to go and meet the Munster team is just unbelievable. The smile on his little face when he came back was unreal. They treated him very well, like he was a really big rugby player. Going down there and seeing them I think will make him want to be a rugby player even more.”

He was joined on the day by two of his teachers as well as friend Kai Young. Principal of Ennis Educate Together Sean O’Confhaola said, “The Munster team were really nice to do this for him and he had a really great day. They were very generous of their time and Damien really appreciated it.”