Category: Notices (Page 2 of 4)

Dear Members

We are at an advanced stage in our planning preparation for our proposed new facility at Oranswell in Galway.

On the 24th July, from 4pm to 7pm at Glenlo Abbey Hotel, we have arranged an Information Evening to give all members the opportunity to view our plans and engage with the professionals appointed to prepare our planning application.

Last evening, 9th July, we visited the residents, door to door, in Oranswell introducing ourselves and listening to any concerns they may have had with our proposed facility.

We used this opportunity to invite them, if they so wished, to also come along to our Information Evening in order to get a better understanding of this project. (see letter below).

The Galwegians Board of Directors would encourage as many of our members as possible to attend this event.

Kind Regards,
Niall Beatty
Director of Development

Galwegians RFC have just announced the appointment of former Connacht Player Andrew Browne as their new head coach for upcoming 2019/20 season.

Andrew comes with huge experience from his time with Connacht and is being joined by current Connacht player Tiernan O’Halloran, who will take on the role as assistant coach.

Current Strength & Conditioning coach Jarlath Naughton will complete the coaching ticket.

The city based club have gone through a turbulent few years, but are excited at the appointment of the new coaching team and, according to Club President Michael Tarpey, are looking forward to what the future holds “We are delighted to have Andrew on board as our coach, particularly as he was a former player here and has strong family connections with the club. The addition of Tiernan O’Halloran is also a massive coup for us and we really feel that this can be the beginning of a successful period in our club”.

Andrew Browne said, “I am really excited to be taking up this new role as head coach with Galwegians RFC and am relishing the Challenge that the position brings. Galwegians has a proud history and Im looking forward to being part of its future and developing as a coach myself. Joining me will be current Connacht player Tiernan O’Halloran and former Galwegian stalwart Jarlath Naughton, both of whom bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, along with a desire to succeed and bring the club on to the next level.”

Galwegians RFC can also confirm that outgoing Senior Coach Brian McClearn will be taking over the helm with their U20s next season. Sincere thanks to Brian for all his efforts over a very difficult three years and the club is delighted to see him remaining involved in the club. 

Special General Meeting: Wed Oct 24th 8pm

A reminder that the Special General Meeting will take place this Wed Oct 24th in the Clubhouse, Crowley Park, at 8pm, see motion below.

All club members are strongly encouraged to attend this hugely important event.

Motion To Be Proposed At Special General Meeting

“We, the Members of Galwegians Rugby Football Club, authorise the Trustees, the Board of Directors, and Committee of the Club to complete the sale of Crowley Park for €9.25 Million and, as soon as practicable thereafter, enter into a contract to purchase, subject to obtaining appropriate planning permission for new playing and all ancillary facilities, lands approved by the Board of Directors at Oranswell, Bushypark, Co Galway for the Club’s use into the future.”

Video Of Proposed Option G3 Oranswell, Bushypark

There was an excellent turn-out for our Information Night on Monday Oct 15th.

Members were given presentations by Niall Beatty of the Development Sub-Committee and Chris McGrath of Tiger Property, who was engaged by Mr. Neil Armstrong in recent months to source potential new sites for the club.

A robust Q&A session followed during which Gus McCarthy from MKOS consultants and John Kelly from PJ Tobins Engineers answered various queries.

A short video of the proposed option at Oranswell, Bushypark is available on Vimeo.

Club Involvement

My grandfather was the first ever captain of Galwegians in 1922 and was captain for five years, which I think was the longest serving captain of the club.

I played under 18’s with Wegians in 1977. I then left to work in Dublin before returning to the club until around 1984.

Before being elected Chairman at this year’s AGM, I had previously served as Club Chairman from 1996 to 1999 when professional rugby evolved.

Playing Highlights

We won the Connacht Senior league in 84/85 season and won the Connacht Senior Cup in 1986 beating Athlone (before Buccaneers!). Played with the thirds and seconds before and after 88/89.

I was Club Captain in 88/89 following a family tradition, and we were pipped in the ’89 Senior Cup Final by UCG. We also lost narrowly in the Junior Cup final in 1992 to Monivea.

Best Players Played With

I was lucky to have played with a lot of great players including Paud Finn, Billy Quinn, Joe Healy, Eric Elwood and our current Pres Mike Tarpey.

Best Opponents

Athlone players such as the Henshaw brothers Dave & Tony ( father of you know who!) and Tommy Conlon were all difficult players.

Career outside Galwegians

After a career in retail and wholesale, I remain very involved in the wine trade as an importer and distributer.

Aspirations for the Club

We have a big two months ahead of us. The future of the club is now at a very interesting crossroads. We need to move and clear our debt and thankfully there is a great financial offer for Glenina at this time. This will afford us the opportunity to move to new grounds and offer state of the art facilities to future generations of Galwegians.

I cannot stress the how important this is. We need to move and move very soon, otherwise we will not have a club in five years’ time.

Galwegians RFC membership procedures have been updated to reflect GDPR regulations, and from member inputs at the club AGM last May.

For the coming season, all memberships will now have to be paid online. A link to the membership tariffs is available on the Membership section on our website. This page also contains a link to the payment system.

All new adult members (not previously members of Galwegians RFC) requesting admission to join the club after August 1st 2018 will have their request considered by the Board of Management, and will be subject to ratification by the Board at the next available Board meeting. Once their application is approved, the new member will obtain full membership, and voting rights at any club EGM or AGM.

The Board of Management will also begin to enforce a clause from the club constitution to close membership to any new members for a fixed period prior to any EGM or AGM.

All new and existing members are requested by the Board of Management to review the Galwegians RFC Code of Conduct.

Life Members are again being asked by the Board of Management to consider paying the equivalent of an ordinary sub to help the club deal with our current financial plight.

The Development Sub Committee, now consisting of Chairman, Frank Kinneen, President, Michael Tarpey, Past President John Gaffney, Immediate Past President Declan O’Connor, Secretary Noel Lowndes, Barry Gavin and I have been busy throughout the summer.

Liaising with Neil Armstrong’s team, site identification and a “nine” stage robust assessment of each side has taken us to all four corners of the city and county.

Many of the 29 sites identified did not pass planning and engineer screening and any of the sites that got to stage 3, “planning screening”, were independently assessed by Gus McCarthy on behalf of Galwegians while working with Neil Armstrong’s team.

At this stage as we prepare for an Information Event & an EGM the number of sites through this system leaves us with four remaining options, ironically two on the west side of the city and two on the east side of the city.

The process will involve a final recommendation from the Development Sub Committee to the Board of Directors and once we have agreement from our Board of Directors dates will be finalised for our Information Event and EGM.

We would like to thank our members for their patience and support throughout this process and assure you no stone will be left unturned to secure the new home for Galwegians RFC.

Niall Beatty, Director of Planning & Development, Galwegians RFC.

Goals for the Season

For the year ahead I would love to see the club move forward together and agree on a new home once and for all, and to finally eradicate our debt . We can all then concentrate on promoting rugby, and increasing the club membership both on and off the field and playing rugby at a more competitive level.

Playing Career

I joined Galwegians in 1982 because Seamus McEvoy, a former President, was an uncle and introduced me to the club.

• Played with the club in 2nd row from 1982 to 1985 winning Connacht Senior Cup in 1983
• Received an Ireland B cap against Scotland in November 1984.
• Played with St Mary’s in Dublin from 1985 to 1988 winning Leinster Senior cup in 1987
• Played with Connacht from 1984 to 1988
• Retired in 1988 due to Back injury

Playing Highlights

• Most memorable moment was beating the arch rivals Corinthians in Senior Cup
• Best player I played against was Donal Lenihan
• Best player I played with was Paul Dean

Outside rugby I am the Managing Director of O’Leary Insurances Galway Ltd, and am married with 3 children.

Mick Tarpey (right) being congratulated by outgoing President Declan O’Connor (left) at the club AGM in June 2018.

We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of or club colleague and Past President Vincent (Vinny) O’Sullivan who passed away this morning.

How ironic that this comes so soon after the loss of his good friend and neighbour from Oranmore, Rod O’Driscoll. We are the poorer for their loss.

More details to follow.

Happy New Year to all Galwegians and may 2018 bring you much joy and happiness.

Our Firsts start back into All-Ireland League action when we travel across town next Friday night (Jan. 5th) to take on our rivals Corinthians in Cloonacauneen.

Note this game will have a slightly later kick-off time of 7.45pm.

This gives us a chance to regain local bragging rights after our 7-7 draw in November at Crowley Park. Beano, Anto and the boys badly need your support in this vital contest.

Please put it in the New year diary!

The Youth Academy awards list for the 2016-17 season was announced at the prizegiving ceremony on May 10th.

• Youth Academy Clubman of the Year: Eoin Fleetwood