Greystones RFC celebrating 80th anniversary

GREYSTONES RFC will mark 80 years since the first match played against Railway Union on November 6th, 1937.

The story of Greystones Rugby Club started in the 1930s when a group of young Rugby enthusiasts in Greystones often arranged a game during the Easter holiday period.

The players were made up of schoolboys and others who had recently left school mostly from Wesley College; Presentation College Bray; St. Andrews College and Presentation College Glasthule.

In the summer of 1937 a number of these young lads including Leslie Doyle, Donal O’Sullivan, Billy and Eric Archer discussed the possibility of forming a Rugby Club in Greystones.

During the following weeks the possibilities and problems were discussed. Where would they find some older people who would join the project – in particular some persons who had an interest in the game?

Where would they find a playing pitch and some shelter for dressing? Where might they find senior persons of standing, with experience in the administrative side of the game?

Billy Dennehy and Donal O’Sullivan indicated that their fathers had been at school with Dr. J.J. Hickey, who had come to live in Greystones a year or two previously, and had been prominent in the game in Malaya and the Far East, so it was decided to ask Dr. Hickey if he would join the venture.

To Dr. Jack Hickey, former president of the Malayan Rugby Football Union, the picturesque village of Greystones had seemed from the tropics an ideal retirement refuge. But it was too quiet and without a Rugby Club he was considering resettling, disillusioned, to his native Cork, where at least the game was strong.

Our four lads, Eric Archer, Bill Dennehy, Leslie Doyle and Donal O’Sullivan called on the good Doctor and listened enthralled to the stories of his Rugby experiences in foreign lands.

The man who could successfully organise the train driver, guard, passengers and staff in a local station to search dense jungle for Malay’s only Rugby Ball which had accidentally left the train during a pre-match warm up, would surely be invaluable in the Club’s foundation. Charles V. Meldon, who lived a Beaconsfield, and had senior club experience, was also consulted and enthusiastically supported the effort.

There was James M. Magee, brother of the legendary Louis, who like Charles Meldon had played for Bective and had been a member of a touring side – it would nowadays be called a “Lions Tour” – which visited South Africa in former years.

The small youthful group and some older enthusiasts continued during the summer of 1937 to make all the many and necessary preparatory investigations and arranged to hold a meeting of supporters in October of that year.

On Friday October 15th 1937, at 8.15pm, in the Carnegie Library, a meeting was held to consider the formation of a Rugby Football Club in Greystones. In all twenty five people attended this meeting.

On the proposition of Mr. Meldon seconded by Mr. F. Huet it was agreed that Dr. Hickey should act as Chairman of the meeting.

Dr. Hickey then outlined to the meeting the essential requirements towards the setting up of a Club and after some discussion it was unanimously agreed that The Greystones Rugby Football Club be established.

The securing of a playing pitch had already been investigated and there was a letter from Mr. Emerson, Agent for the Burnaby Estate, indicating that the Estate “would be willing to give use of a field and a pavilion to the club for the season i.e. from October 1937 to March 1938, at a charge of £6” This arrangement resulted from a visit by W. Dennehy and Eric Archer to the Agent and a degree of negotiation to obtain a reduction from £6 to £4. It was unanimously agreed that the offer of Mr. Emerson be accepted.

So there was established a club, with a pitch and small pavilion, a new ball, distinctive colours for players and by way of officers, an Honorary Secretary and Chairman, later to be designated President.

To this day our Club has grown in strength and numbers with Mini and youths numbering over 575 boys and girls from the age of 6 to 18 playing each week. Three mens and one womens squad and our U20’s. Greystones RFC continues to strive for success at every level with the first XV crowning a great 2016/17 season with promotion to Division 2A of the All Ireland League.

Greystones RFC is an integral part of the local community and provides everyone with the opportunity to play and enjoy rugby regardless of age, gender or ability. The special needs tag rugby team, our “Seagulls”, is a fully inclusive side for those with intellectual disabilities.

The town of Greystones is synonymous with Greystones Rugby Club and the success of the Rugby Club and its many representative players over the years is one of the main reasons the town of Greystones is known throughout Ireland and beyond these shores.

We can safely say the spirit of our founders is all around us, a Club today we are all proud of, a pride we are certain they would share as we look forward to the years ahead with the excitement and joy our forefathers had when they met 80 years ago.