Hard work pays off Wicklow RFC minis PRO scoops Leinster rugby award

Sports Editor HARD work, dedication and endeavour paid off big time for Wicklow RFC’s Mary Keating recently when she was awarded the PRO of the Month for December by Leinster Rugby.

A tireless worked for the Wicklow club, Mary was surprised and pleased by the award but says that she does the work because she loves the club.

“I was totally surprised,” said Mary, “we do this work because we want to and I have a passion for it but it’s not just me, there are so many people involved. It’s very pleasing and I’m very proud,” she added.

Of the other people Mary speaks of, the name of Stephen Clarke is never far away from the conversation. The Wicklow RFC PRO is a tremendous servant to the successful and thriving club and the work of the public relations team in Wicklow RFC should be used as an example to all clubs across all sports to show how important such work is in terms of spirit, attitude, fostering positivity and ultimately improving the health of a club.

“Stephen Clarke is a huge figure in the club,” said Mary, a Galway native who describes Wicklow RFC as a “lovely embracing club, a family club”.

Another name never far from mention in our chat with Mary Keating is that of Enda Luddy who is responsible for Mary taking on the job.

“Enda Luddy was minis coordinator and he asked me would I take on the job so I created that role at the request from Enda. I have a PR background so we made a great team and that structure that was set up has continued,” she added.

Part of Mary’s work and that of the other members of the PR team in Wicklow RFC is the steady supply of high quality copy and images to newspapers and online which give a taste of the activities taking place in the club. Mary feels that young players seeing themselves in the paper is a massive thing.

All this hard work has to pay off at some stage and you could say that it is paying off right now with over 500 playing members now listed on the club’s books, a Towns Cup in the bag from 2016, all adult teams in fine fettle as we start 2017 and a girls section that is absolutely flying, so much so that the club are seeking to start an under-8s girls team and wish to invite anybody interested in giving rugby a go to call up and take part.

Mary Keating is a tremendous worker for her beloved Wicklow RFC and the award is just reward for her efforts and long may they continue!