Garryowen FC host U12 tournament which honours former Ireland international

GARRYOWEN FC is running a Festival of Rugby for children under 12 this Saturday, March 15 to honour former Ireland rugby international Neville Furlong, who served as the Dooradoyle club's Chairman of Underage Rugby until his passing.

This is the fifth running of the festival and the first time post-covid. This year Garryowen are hosting over 550 players representing 25 clubs from all over Ireland.

The festival is named in honour of Furlong who was Chairman of Underage Rugby at Garryowen FC until his untimely death in 2017. The late Neville Furlong embraced the idea that all children should be given the best chance possible to achieve their potential and in the best environment that could be offered.

As with everything Neville took his hand to, he did not just talk about it, he made tangible and long-lasting changes that set Garryowen FC on a course that sees over 500 children as members of Garryowen today and he put in place structures to ensure they enjoy their time at the club and continue playing into adulthood.

The late Neville Furlong, who passed away aged just 49, played minor and U21 Gaelic football for Wexford before turning his attentions to rugby while attending NUIG, then University College Galway.

The winger lined out for the college and Connacht in the 1990s, winning two caps on Ireland's tour of New Zealand in 1992.

He played in the 21-18 loss in Dunedin and scored the last try worth four points for Ireland in the second-Test defeat in Wellington.

He was later based in Limerick as an army captain, where he was a player, coach and official with Garryowen FC, and also trained football and hurling teams in Limerick and Clare.

All are welcome to Garryowen this Saturday, March 15 to enjoy the festivities and participate in the fun. Matches will start at 10am and run until 2pm.