The Irish Lions

A Pride of Lions gathered in the IRFU reception rooms under the West Stand in Lansdowne Road last night for the official launch of Barry Coughlan’s book ‘The Irish Lions 1896-2001’.

Among the large turn out were current Lion, Brian O’Driscoll and former notables such as Mick Doyle, Hugo MacNeill, Rodney O’Donnell, Ollie Campbell and Tony Ward.

Also in attendance were internationals Gordon D’Arcy and Emmet Byrne, the Leinster management team of coach Matt Williams and manager Ken Ging, former IRFU President Eddie Coleman, Leinster Branch President John West and club presidents Joe Leddin (Lansdowne) and Paul Maher (Bective Rangers).

Guest of Honour was Syd Miller, Chairman of the Lions Committee and himself a former Lions player, manager and coach.

The book, a detailed record of those Irish players involved with the Four Nations side since 1896, is full of facts, figures and interesting little stories and contains some great photographs going back to the one of the 1895 Ireland side that included future Lions Tommy Crean, Louis Magee, J.T. Magee and A.D. Clinch.

The author, Barry Coughlan, was educated at Presentation Brothers Cork and Cork College of Commerce. He joined the then Cork Examiner in 1972 and was appointed rugby correspondent in 1981. A veteran of four Lions tours he has also covered four World Cups as well as several overseas international tours.

The book is reasonably priced at IRP9.95 (Euro-12.63) and a percentage of sales will go to the IRFU Charitable Trust.