'It's about the people' - Mayo rugby club launch centenary book

A must read for Mayo rugby fans.

Humble beginnings are often quoted in history books, biographies, commemorative editions, but rarely has it been so fitting regarding the first years of Westport Rugby Football Club.

It was founded right on the back of the Civil War, when the young Irish Free State lay divided. Getting a rugby club going was a challenge that founder Joe Gill didn't shirk away from. He had a vision and went ahead.

Now 100 years later, Westport RFC have their own patch of land, pitches and a clubhouse that would make the founder proud. For the launch of their centenary book, prominent figures from the Irish rugby sphere made their way to Westport Town Hall on Friday.

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Jimmy Staunton, current president of Connacht Rugby was among them, as well as former Castlebar player and now IRFU committee member Gerry Casey. He shared his memories from meeting Westport back in the day. Painful and fond memories alike:
“I'm sure there's a few fellas here that might have actually given me the clip when we played each other. But after the match, we all went into the bar and we had a pint and shook hands and, we got on with life and it was always a great occasion. It was the local derby after all.”

But later in his playing career Gerry also togged out alongside Westport men. One match, “there was a lot of expletives and one of them was 'Ye shower of Fenians'. And we had a New Zealander, Brent Lewis, who was playing for us and he came over to me at half time and he knew what the first word was but he said, what's a Fenian? So I had to explain to him what a Fenian was. It was a great time and we had great fun and made a few friends that I still would have in Westport.”

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The production of the recently published book was an effort, similar to the 80 minutes on the pitch on a Sunday, as Westport RFC president John Ryan pointed out: “It was teamwork that had pulled it all together. At the start, realised we need to focus on the book being about people, about the club. The memorable incidents, the characters that are in the club, that's what makes the club. I always say, we may not have the best team, but we always have the best welcome. So the book really is a tribute to everybody who played, every volunteer who rolled up their sleeves, and every supporter who's cheered from the sidelines.”

The support definitely helped the Westport teams last Sunday. The men's beat Monivea 25-0 which secured their spot in the top 4 round robin of the Connacht Junior 1B League. And the women won their Connacht Cup quarter-final against University of Galway on a 24-7 score line. 

And for everyone who wants to read up on characters and stories of 100 years of Westport RFC: The book is available in bookshops in Westport. 

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