PICTURES: Keith Earls: "Photographer Ivan O'Riordan is a memory maker and a story teller"

FORMER Munster Rugby and Ireland rugby star Keith Earls was the special guest for the launch of a new book which chronicles the triumph and the heartbreak of Munster Rugby men’s team between 2010 and 2025 at O'Mahony's Booksellers, O'Connell St, Limerick.

The province's victories and defeats from that 15-year period are beautifully captured in a new photography book from acclaimed Limerick photographer Ivan O'Riordan.

Thursday evening's launch of ‘The Brave and the Faithful: Celebrating 15 years of Munster Rugby 2010 to 2025’ was also attended by several members of the current Munster Rugby squad.

In his address to the launch, Keith Earls said: "This is probably more nerve-wracking now than playing against Leinster in Croke Park!

"Ivan (O'Riordan) asked me to say a few things about my career, but we all know that is not going to happen. This is Ivan's night.

"Where to begin with Ivan? I'm retired two years this month, I've been doing a lot of thinking and remisicing of my rugby career. We don't appreciate our career in the height of it. People ask do I miss it, and I'm only starting to miss it now.

"I don't miss the training, and being beaten up! I miss the supporters, I miss the faces like Ivan's in Thomond Park. The minute I think of Ivan, I think of him as a piece of the furniture in Thomond Park.

"I don't see you as a photographer. I see you as a memory-maker, a story-teller and having a look through the book, some of the pictures you have - Andrew Conway, Simon Zebo, a few of myself.

"I've never saw a picture of my first cap for Munster. It was one thing I thought about when I retired. I regret not saving these pictures myself. I searched the whole internet and I couldn't find one. But Ivan pops out to me for a coffee, and I decided there is no better man to find it. Ivan, with his connections, came out to my coffee shop with the picture. It meant a lot to me as it was in the famous 2006 jersey.

"Going through the book brings up a lot of heartache at times, but looking to the end of the book, it is good to se myself and Peter O'Mahony lifting that URC trophy in 2023."

Beginning with the spectacular URC-winning 2010–2011 season, ‘the Brave and the Faithful’ relives the electrifying moments of Munster Rugby’s finest sportsmen in the heat of battle: from legendary heroes such as Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Simon Zebo, CJ Stander and Keith Earls, to up-and-coming stars including Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Calvin Nash, Edwin Edogbo and more.

Fans get the thrill of the pitch-side view through the lens of Munster superfan Ivan , who has fundraised for Munster charities through acclaimed photographic exhibitions of his team.

The ‘The Brave and the Faithful - Celebrating Fifteen Years of Munster Rugby 2010–2025, priced at €24.99, the hardback book contains more than 150 pages of pictures capturing the best of Munster’s last 15 years.

Photographer Dermot Lynch captured the highlights from the launch event for the Limerick Leader.

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