Dear Members, Friends and Visitors,

I feel very honoured and privileged to be your President for the 2024-25 Season. it is a great honour for myself and my family. I look forward to representing our Club to the best of my ability. I wish to extend a warm welcome to fellow members, friends, guests, visiting teams and match officials to Lakelands for what, I hope, will be a successful season for all our teams from the Under 6’s through to the 1sts, the Youths, Mini’s, girls and boys and our Club’s favourite team, the Terenure Tigers.

I joined Terenure College RFC in 1975. Over the past (close on) 50 years, I was honoured to represent our Club, playing at all levels and received further honours with Leinster and Ireland. I always felt so proud seeing and hearing the mention of Terenure College RFC on these stages. I would like to thank all the players and coaches who have helped me achieve my dreams. I have made many lifelong friends both on and off the pitch. This is the epitome of our Club’s tradition, making lifelong friendships, helping to develop our sporting abilities and having fun.

I would like to congratulate, Luke Clohessy, on his selection as our new Club Captain and wish him, his 1st team squad, Seán Skehan and his coaching team the very best of luck for the coming season. I also wish the U-20’s, Junior Rugby, youth’s, mini’s, girls and boys, Tigers, Coaches, managers and ALL our volunteers a very successful and enjoyable season. I would like to give a warm welcome to the new members to the Club. I hope to meet with you all during the season and that you enjoy the “Nure”

Over the years, our Club have achieved many honours on the rugby pitch. We are on a crest of a wave at present with many highs last season, being AIL Div 1 Finalists, winning the Bateman Cup, the Colm O’Shea Cup, The Metro 5 and 10 Leagues, at U-20’s Level winning the McCorry Cup, our Girls winning the U-16’s Metro Cup and our U-14’s Boys winning the Division 3 Metro Cup. With 9 of our girls and boys selected for the Leinster trials, the future is looking good. I wish all teams the very best for the season ahead.

Sponsors are a vital lifeline for community Clubs such as ours. I would like to note with appreciation our main Club Sponsor, MJ Flood whose support has been invaluable, along with that of Sherry Fitzgerald, sponsors of our U-20’s and our Tigers, and Grant Thornton who sponsor our Youths and Minis. To all who support our Yearbook, take hoardings, support our AIL lunches and all other sponsors, I wish to express my sincere thanks and gratitude for your generous support.

I would like to sincerely acknowledge and thank the work, dedication and service of our unsung heroes, the numerous volunteers throughout our Club who continue to give generously of their personal time in the organisation and efficient running of our Club’s activities. Our Club Officers, Our Executive Committee, under the Chairmanship of Paul Candon, and many other committees made up of Club members who work very hard to ensure that all aspects of our Club operate satisfactorily. Also, our bar staff, groundsmen, carpark, gate, shop and our office team, without your input and willingness to help, our Club could not succeed. I do ask / call on any member who can, to volunteer and help lighten the load.

We have a major building project ahead that will include the upgrading our members bar, pavilion area and adding a new Gym to our Club facilities. We are in the planning process and continuing with our fundraising efforts. There is still time to have your name, Company, Team, Old Cup Success etc. engraved in our Club History. See our website for how to contribute.

Finally, I wish all our players an injury free season and look forward to meeting you after the games in our Clubhouse for a chat / catch-up and a pint (or 2…)