The ‘Old Boys’ are on their way back to town
The touring US based rugby club from New Jersey, whose members have become expert stout tasters through contact with Castleisland natives, are on their way back here with a mission in mind.
The Morris Rugby Corporation members have, in fact, two missions in mind and both are of equal importance.
They will take on the locals here in a veterans’ game and they are going hell for leather to take the John Browne Memorial Cup across the Atlantic Ocean after this weekend’s encounter.
They have been led here by Castleisland native Seamus Brosnan for the past four or five years and the numerical size of the travelling party is increasing with every passing year.
Last year the tourists enjoyed the hospitality of the local Rugby club and played an ‘Old Boys’ game on the hallowed Crageens turf. It was under lights and in the kind of dreadful weather conditions you wouldn’t put your mother-in-law out in.
They were treated to fine food and beer in the clubhouse after the friendly game.
However, the absence of Guinness led to an evacuation with the fall of ground and they found themselves in Peter Browne’s Bar with pints of their favourite stout at their elbows and music galore at their ears.
The Morris Rugby Corporation members are Munster Rugby Mad – there’s no other way of putting it.
And on Saturday’s Munster versus Racing 92 return game at Thomond Park, the Morris Corporation boys will share guard of honour duties with a selection from the Paris based, French side’s supporters.
You may recall a couple of weeks ago how the French were magnificent hosts to the travelling Munster supporters in Paris. It was all in honour of the late Munster player and coach, Anthony Foley.
The travelling Morris Rugby Corporation / Munster supporters are about to be woven into this amazing story of goodwill and finest example of true sporting ambassadorship. It’s a heartwarming story and it now involves the USA, Ireland and France.
We could say that the touring side’s fondness for porter was instilled in them at Sheila Prendiville’s Bar and Grocery on their first two visits. During the tours of 2013 and 2014 they camped at No.22 Main Street and loved the porter there and the ease of access to it. We could say it because we were there.
One of them ordered six pints and was told ‘fill away there yourself.’ Cometh the hour... In stepped David ‘Dauber’ Prendiville to provide a sup-by-sup guide to filling, appreciating and drinking good porter and to the intricacies of the old wooden, money drawer and of the book.
The Morris Rugby Football Club was founded in September 1977. Many of the early members were solicited from the local colleges as well as many local Morris corporations. Joining the Metropolitan New York Rugby Football Union in 1978, Morris has grown to a size of 50+ players, an Old Boys team and a women’s team. Castleisland, brace yourself.