ALONE THEY ST
THERE will be little avoiding Axel Foley’s five-year anniversary at Thomond Park this evening.
But then there are always diverse reasons Axel 8’s presence resonates in Europe’s largest purpose-built rugby ground.
He was there as a young boy when his dad was starring for Shannon on both the main and back pitch, played his first Shannon game against Young Munster there and his last Munster game, against Wasps in these surrounds.
But then Thomond Park has never been accepted as plain bricks’n’mortar, at least not since Munster — with Brendan Foley in the second-row — defeated the All Blacks.
A rugby shrine that has become even more revered as, for some, it is so much associated with his son.
“I’ve only been back to the graveyard where Anthony is buried twice since the day the funeral went in there,” admits Axel’s sister Orla.
“I believe it is lovely there and the grave has been tended lovingly.
Memories
“I’d always say Thomond Park was my ‘church’ — it is where you remember all these happy memories, those matches — I can’t go to Thomond Park without feeling Anthony there and that’s a good thing.
“If it is not a match day, I’d prefer to get out on the bike or run or go to places that were special and connect with him.”
Running, biking and swimming remain close to Orla’s connection with her brother and, indeed, she is currently fronting a charity, Stand Up And Move, working with those disciplines to raise funds for CARI (Children at Risk in Ireland) Limerick.
Not so much coincidentally but collaboratively there is a single ‘Alone You Stand’ from former Ireland international, Axel’s former Munster teammate and resident Hermitage Green member Barry Murphy.
Limerick-born Murphy was close to Axel during their playing days as highlighted by his hilarious portrait of an eventful Killiney Castle escapade.
But his association of the good times with Foley had also brought massive angst and doubt as to just how worthy was he to try and capture such a character, so clearly ‘owned’ by so many.
Foley the rugby player, he says with wonder all these years later, seemed able to channel the game’s rhythm, predict and play to each and every minute’s unfolding setting.
As a musician could he hear the cadence of the player, the son, the husband, the father; it
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EXCLUSIVE E
was something that would bring new fears to a fearless centre’s life…
“I have a memory of being at an Eddie O’Sullivan Ireland training camp in Killiney Castle the day Axel was dropped by Eddie.
“Jerry Flannery had driven me up but had been asked to stay on so I had to find Axel and ask for a lift home.
Important
“I found him at lunch so I went over and asked and he didn’t respond, just continued slurping slowly away at his soup.
“After what was probably just a few minutes but seemed an eternity to mine he looked up and said ‘ if you have anything important to say to me say it to me now because I am not talking to you on the way home…’
“Sure enough, he drove home
Note: In submitting your total kms contribution, only include those persons who have donated, ie family of 5 doing a 5km walk is 5 txts @ €4 = € 20 donated and 25kms covered. Club of 10 cycling 50k, 10 donations @ €4 = €40 and 500kms covered.
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