Outgoing Athy RFC President reflects on successful year

At the recent club AGM, the baton was handed from outgoing president Ger Brennan to the incoming office holder Adrian Conlon. 

Best wishes to Adrian and congratulations to Ger on a truly wonderful season at Athy RFC. I spoke to Ger last week and asked him about his year as president and he reminded me that it was his second stint as president, having held the post between 2017 and 2019, but he was honoured to have held the office during such a successful year, a year which saw success for teams right across the club in men’s and women’s competitions as well as underage girls and boys success.

“Our women’s teams have only been playing a few years, but the commitment and passion shown by them is immense. This year, they won both the Paul Flood plate and the Anne Fitzpatrick cup. I am very proud of them,’’ he said. 

“The club has invested hugely in our underage teams over the years with great success, not just locally but in the number of Athy players, both men and women, who have gone on to represent Leinster and Irish national sides at all levels.’’

Ger is particularly proud of the success of the underage teams in the club. 

“As a former youths coach, it gives me great satisfaction to see how youths rugby has developed at the club and this year alone we have had a great season with the girls U18s winning the Leinster plate and the U16s winning the Leinster League division 1. 

"The boys’ teams did well also, winning the U18 north midlands league, the U15 Leinster premier league, the U15 north midlands league and the U14 Leinster cup and the U14 north midlands league. That is some success for one club.’’

Ger praised the commitment and dedication of the club members and their voluntary commitment. “A club is only as good as the members who participate in it and at Athy RFC we have a truly wonderful club spirit, fantastic members and it shows in everything we do.’’

Ger went on to talk about the provincial towns cup win, his voice cracking as he spoke about the great day against Carlow in Naas. 

“When I was a kid playing rugby in Athy, I remember looking through the shutters in the clubhouse at the towns cup. It occupied a huge space behind the bar, but then it was gone and that space remained empty for another 41 years, a lifetime, a lifetime of players and coaches and wet, cold nights training, chasing that elusive trophy, but on that Sunday night when I placed it proudly back on the shelf I thought of all those who had gone before me, of those no longer with us and of the blood, sweat and tears of all those who had made this day possible. 

"It was a very special and proud moment and one I will be eternally grateful to Athy RFC for affording me the privilege of presidency during such a momentous year.’’

And what about the future? I asked him. He paused for a moment and said: “Presenting the minis with their medals at the end of the season was a special experience, the look on the faces of the young girls and boys in their blue and white hooped shirts, some as young as five years old, as I shook their hand and handed them their medal was special, knowing that these kids would go on to represent the club and province at every level into the future was a proud moment for me.’’

The future?

“It’s blue and white.’’