Tag Archives: rugby

A MEMORIAL campaign for the late Munster head coach, Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley, has secured global support. The Axel Foley Memorial appeal, #8masses4no8, which was set up by his son, Tony, has already secured almost 30,000 Facebook likes, 3,500 more than the capacity of Thomond Park. The Foley family have been “overwhelmed” by messages of support from Killaloe, Limerick, all over the country, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, New Zealand and even missionaries in Africa and the Far East. Support has come from young and old, many of whom are not rugby fans. Tony has highlighted one message from sixth-year students at Beneavin College in Finglas, which captures everything this campaign is about – remembering his father and others who have gone. Last Saturday, Tony joined his eight-year-old brother, Dan and Munster players in the middle of Thomond Park at the end of the match for a charged rendition of the anthem Stand Up and Fight. More than 25,000 fans remained …

Anthony Foley, the family man, was the central theme of the homily at his funeral mass in St Flannan’s Church, Killaloe today (Friday). The homily, which reflected on the gentle side of a man who was a formidable presence on the rugby field, was delivered by Clarecastle parish priest, Fr Pat Malone, a long time friend of the Foley family. Fr Pat said, “My first words and thoughts today go to you Olive, to [sons Tony and Dan, [parents] Shelia and Brendan, [sisters] Rosie and Orla; and they are simple words we use at funerals when we don’t know what to say. ‘I am sorry for your trouble’. These words say it all today. Sorry to see you in such shock and pain. Sorry to hear, as you expressed it yourselves in your very moving family statement earlier in the week, that “we have been plunged deep into an incomprehensible darkness and sense of loss”. Sorry to hear that Anthony has died. “Olive, …

Anthony Foley’s remains are to be flown home from Paris to Shannon Airport tomorrow, Wednesday, from where they will be brought to his family home (private) in Killaloe. The Munster rugby coach and former Ireland player died in a hotel in the French capital over the weekend, hours before his team was due to play  in a European Cup game. Anthony Foley’s remains will lie in repose at St Flannan’s Church, Killaloe from 1pm to 8.30pm on Thursday evening. People intending on paying their respects to Anthony are encouraged to attend early. The funeral mass will take place at 12 noon on Friday at St Flannan’s Church, with the church reserved for family and friends only. Burial afterwards will be at Relig Núa Cemetery, Killaloe.

The family of rugby legend Anthony Foley has responded to the outpouring of support and sympathy received since his sudden death in Paris over the weekend. “With Anthony’s passing, we have ultimately lost an amazing, adoring and loving father and husband; an equally caring, loyal and devoted son and brother; a central and go-to figure for the wider Foley and Hogan families. Our anguish at the sudden loss of Anthony is bottomless. We have been plunged deep into an incomprehensible darkness and sense of loss that we must work our way through over the coming days, weeks, months and years. “We know, too, that his sudden death has brought the rugby worlds of Shannon RFC, Munster, Ireland and much further afield crashing down. You have lost a former player, coach, friend and all-round inspiration – your and our hero both. We mourn his loss together,” the family said in a statement. In recognising the sympathetic may in which the media …

MEMBERS of the public have been signing books of condolences today at Áras Contae an Chláir in Ennis and at the Killaloe Electoral Area Office in Scariff in memory of rugby star Anthony Foley, who died suddenly at the weekend. Leas cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Paul said, “On behalf of Clare County Council and the people of Clare, I want to extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to Anthony’s family and his wide circle of friends and former colleagues. “Anthony was a warrior in sport and in life and he never shirked a challenge”, added Mr Murphy. “Anthony’s achievements on the pitch were matched off the pitch by his role as an ambassador for Clare, Munster and Ireland. His loss to the local community in Killaloe and to Irish sport is immeasurable. Pat Dowling, chief executive of Clare County Council added, “In 2009, Clare County Council honoured Anthony with a civic reception. Today, Clare County Council joins local authorities across the province in …

SOMEHOW Sabena Moylan manages to mix working as an air hostess for Virgin Atlantic with rugby refereeing in Munster, along with extensive charity work for the London-based Atlas Foundation. As recently as August, her work brought her to almost every continent. Rugby-wise she has attended the Rugby World Cup and the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa. Next month, the former Shannon Comprehensive and IT Tralee student will touch down in Chicago for the Ireland v New Zealand international. Currently working her way back from a knee injury, Moylan started refereeing in 2012. She calculates that there are four female rugby referees in Munster and 10 in Ireland. “There was a bit of communication between me and the Munster branch. I was touch judge in my first game out in St Mary’s. I wasn’t thrown in at the deep end in the middle of the pitch. They’re good like that. They let you touch judge for a month or two …

St Caimin’s  Shannon 20  Abbey CBS, Tipperary 17 St Caimin’s Community school Shannon made rugby history at the 4G pitch at the university of Limerick this Tuesday afternoon when they won a Munster rugby title for the first time. Having qualified on Friday last with a 22-15 win over Clonmel High school, the Clare side produced another impressive display when overcoming another Tipperary school in the final. Behind 5-10 at half time, St Caimin’s  came storming back in the second half to capture the honours. By Seamus Hayes, Sports editor   Photographs by John  Kelly

The University of Limerick will this afternoon award an Honorary Doctor of Science to former Ireland rugby captain Paul O’Connell. Dr Paul O’Connell will be the 100th recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Limerick since 1990. Dr Paul O’Connell has a long association with the University of Limerick from his days training in the original PESS swimming pool as a secondary school student, to the years he spent studying computer engineering at UL. He has been a director of the UL Foundation since 2011. In that role in 2012, he gave generously of his time to front the Paul O’Connell Golf Outing, which raised in excess of €50,000 to fund scholarships for students participating in UL’s Access Programme. The scholarships enabled six students from socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Limerick to study degree programmes at the University. Speaking about Paul O’Connell’s Honorary Doctorate UL President Professor Don Barry said, “The awarding of a University of Limerick Honorary Doctorate …