Castlebar Rugby Club ready to tackle new season and pitch developments
By John Melvin
THERE has been a lot of activity both on and off the pitch at Castlebar Rugby Club as a new season gets underway.
The club grounds are undergoing extensive development with a lot of work being done on the pitch and its surrounds, while coaches at all levels in the club have been busy organising their training game schedule for the coming season.
Plans to improve the facilities at Castlebar RFC’s grounds at Cloondeash are well underway.
A new stand on the west side of the main pitch is currently under construction and will provide ample shelter for supporters during the winter months. The build also includes new dugouts for home and away teams.
The club’s committee are also moving forward with an extension to the clubhouse and dressing rooms to enable the club to adequately cater for their membership that has substantially grown over the past five years.
With the installation of LED floodlights at the club in 2022, the club’s facilities will be state of the art and ready to celebrate the 140th anniversary of Castlebar RFC.
The club's Junior side saw their first piece of action at the weekend as they hosted Tuam in the semi-final of the Cawley Cup, a competition which is the pre-season to the start of the league next month.
The club are honoured to have two of their long serving members being elevated to senior positions within the rugby fraternity.
Jimmy Staunton was installed as the new president of Connacht Rugby, a tremendous honour for a man who has given huge service to the club and the branch as a player as well as an administrator and who brings huge experience into this role as president of the Connacht Branch.
Another former club legend - well still a legend to be precise - Gerry Casey has been beavering away as a very active member of the IRFU board of directors where his reputation as a valuable contributor to the board continues to grow as he brings to the table his wealth of knowledge in developing and expanding rugby as a sport at local, provincial and national and international level.
From an administration point of view, Castlebar RFC are fortunate to have a hard-working and dedicated committee, headed by chairman Kevin McGing, and already he has made an impact with various developments at the club.
Next year the club will celebrate an important milestone as it is their 140th anniversary and plans are in place to ensure a celebration that will reflect the growth and development of a club steeped in sporting history.
PRE-SEASON
Castlebar’s head coach, Alan Bane, has reported strong showings in pre-season training, which continues at Cloondeash every Tuesday and Friday evening at 7.30 p.m. New players are always welcome,
Bane was head coach of the Connacht Juniors during this summer’s Junior Interprovincial Series, which featured a number of players from Castlebar’s first XV. Experience gained during interprovincial game-time will stand to the team during their J1A League campaign.
Bane’s side are joined at training sessions by Castlebar’s second XV. The seconds are managed again this year by David Flannelly, with coaching and support from Robbie Cusack, Paul Heverin and Frankie Gannon.
YOUTHS/MINIS
Over the past number of years, the club has put increased resources towards growing the game among younger age groups. Of Castlebar’s 500 plus members, a large proportion now falls within the youth and minis category.
Minis rugby has started back and will continue every Saturday from 10.30 to 11.45 a.m. for boys and girls born 2013 to 2019.
Boys contacts and coaches:
The Under 18.5 boys are training on Thursdays, 7 to 8.30 p.m., playing Division 1. Contact Ken McInerney - Chris Cusack/Paddy Flannelly/Rory Hughes coaching (may change to Tuesday).
The Under15/16 boys are training on Thursday, 7 to 8.30 p.m., playing Division 2. Contact Damian Cashin (may change to Tuesday) - Paddy Durcan and Damian Cashin coaching.
The Under 14 boys are training on Wednesday, 7 to 8.30 p.m. Contact JD O’Malley - Barry Walsh and Danny Plaster (TBC) coaching.
The Under 13 boys are training on Wednesday, 7 to 8.30 p.m. Contact Dec Burke - Stephen Rogan and Ton Ton coaching
Girls contacts and coaches:
The Under 18 girls train on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6.30 to 7.30 p.m. They play in the Connacht Bank of Ireland Division 2 League. Coaching team are Mairéad Bradley, Fergal Dunne and Owen Smart.
Under 16 girls train on Tuesdays and Thursdays 6.30 to 7.30 p.m. They are playing in the Connacht Bank of Ireland Division 2 League. Team manager Laura O'Brien, coaches Maurice Murphy, Shay Cusack and Damian Murphy.
Under 14 girls train Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 to 7 p.m. They are playing in the Connacht Bank of Ireland Division 2 League. Team manager Sharon McDonald. Coaches are Alex Goor, Alan Gavin, Brendan McDonald.
All girls are welcome to come 'Give it a Try' - no experience necessary. Contact Mairéad Bradley for further details for any of the youth girls’ teams.
RUGBY CLUB NEXT YEAR
Castlebar was one of six fledging clubs that came together in 1885 to form Connacht Rugby, of which local club member Jimmy Staunton is now president, while Gerry Casey is doing excellent work for rugby in the province as a member of the IRFU.
The club’s celebrations will coincide with the 150th anniversary of the IRFU. Anniversary events are being organised to celebrate the occasion and more details will follow on the club’s social media accounts.
The club’s monthly lotto has been increased to €1,000 each month. Entry details are on the club’s website.
All queries can be sent to club secretary Noel Campbell at rfccastlebar@gmail.com. And my thanks to Noel for his help in putting this article together.