Grand Slam Tour Hits An Cheathru Rua
The Grand Slam is providing a huge boost to grassroots rugby all over Ireland as evidenced by the visit this week to Scoil Mhic Dara and An Ghaeltacht in Carraroe. The Championship and Triple Crown trophies were there as part of the Connacht Branch’s leg of the Grand Slam trophy tour. An Ghaeltacht’s Cian De Butleir takes up the story.
Eamonn Molloy and David O’Brien of the Connacht Branch of the IRFU arrived out to Scoil Mhic Dara in An Cheathru Rua on Tuesday afternoon.
It was directly after school lunch and the children were assembled hurriedly into the school hall. Some mothers from other schools had taken their children out early to come and view the spectacle.
Some dads pulled up their trucks and vans and ran in to have a look.
Eamonn and David solemnly opened the boot of the car and took out two very heavy looking flight cases. They walked in to the school foyer and straightened their ties, put the boxes on the ground and opened them.
Out came the prizes, two very shiny, large trophies.
A great roar rang out as the two men walked in to the hall holding them up high. Eamonn explained briefly to those who had not been on the planet that day, what the trophies were and how they had been achieved.
The only question from the floor of children was from Conall Ó Gríofa in first class who wanted to know where the rugby team were? That somehow, it was only logical to Conall that the team would come attached to the trophies as well!
Cumann Rugbaí na Gaeltachta managed to get their banner in and a few of the Scoil Mhic Dara students managed to sneak on their An Ghaeltacht jerseys and stand proudly alongside the silverware.
Many of the the children attending Scoil Mhic Dara play with An Ghaeltacht during the winter months.
Talking over, the important work began, that of getting as many photos as is humanly possible of as many people as is humanly possible holding the trophies.
There were class photos, family photos, individual photos with camera phones. Even the teachers managed to get their own photo memento.
Eamonn and David stood very patiently until everyone had taken their snaps and then they drove around the corner to Scoil Chumsíeach and did the same thing all over again!
They both agreed that on a day like this, they really loved their job!
Related Links –
Follow the RBS 6 Nations and Triple Crown trophies on their tour around Ireland on the Grand Slam Map – click here.