Sligo Rugby Club says goodbye to two great friends

There was a profound sense of sadness at Sligo Rugby Club recently as the club said goodbye to two long time members and great friends.

Michael McNulty was part of the great Sligo RFC sides of the late 1960s and played an integral role in the junior cup winning side of 1969.

This was a pivotal time for Sligo Rugby Club, as land was bought in Strandhill and a clubhouse was built, hence the birth of Hamilton Park.

He was remembered fondly by former team mates and friends.

As Michael was being laid to rest, the sad news came through about the sudden passing of another great rugby man, Brian Hynes (inset).

Brian had played rugby at scrum half for Bective Rangers and Longford in the late 1960s and into the mid70s.

He later took up the coaching mantle in Sligo RFC and was the backs coach of the Sligo Senior Cup squad which narrowly lost 6-8 against Corinthians in the Connacht Senior Cup final of April 1982.

He took up the position of Senior Coach the following year. Nine years later, Brian returned to coaching, joining forces with Brendan Leahy on the coaching team, and again reaching a Connacht Senior Cup final in April 1992, losing narrowly to Ballinasloe 6-10.

He was a great reader of the game and was delighted when Sligo won the Connacht Senior Cup last December. Both the Sligo Rugby Club and the Connacht Rugby flags were flown at half-mast at Hamilton Park during the club’s historical 37-0 win over Thomond as a mark of respect to Michael and Brian.

President John Kane remembered them both as absolute gentlemen and great friends of Sligo RFC in his speech at the pre-match lunch.

The record-breaking crowd of over 1,000 people, stood in the shadow of Knocknarea, in complete silence, to honour two men who may be gone, but will not be forgotten by their friends at Sligo RFC.

May they both Rest in Peace.