A BRILLIANT new book provides fascinating insights into the early Lions tours from a local viewpoint.
Jointly penned by Des Ryan and Stephen Ruschitzko, Limerick Lions – Limerick and the British and Irish Lions 1888-1988 tracks the first locals to represent the British and Irish Lions, and meticulously documents their stories from schools through club and onto representative level.
Included are Sir Charles Burton Barrington (Murroe), Ned Dore (Shanagolden), William Roche (Limerick), Tom Clifford (Young Munster), Tom Reid (Garryowen), Gordon Wood (Old Crescent/Garryowen), Bill Mulcahy (Bohemians), Mick English (Shannon/Bohemians), Colm Tucker (Shannon), Tony Ward (Garryowen), and Gerry ‘Ginger’ McLoughlin (St Mary’s/Shannon).
Interesting snippets from within its chapters are that Ned Dore of Shanagolden, who played against the Lions (with the Wallabies) before a Limerick man had even played for them.
Colm Tucker played for the Lions more times than he did for Ireland; Garryowen’s Tom Reid was the first man to play for and against the Lions and William Roche even had a World War Two encounter with the Nazi’s Rudolph Hess.
Other early insights into the sport include: Limerick’s first rugby club, Rathkeale RC, founded in 1874; the first Irish international game in 1875 featured Limerick man Jack Myles whose brother Sir Tom Myles was part of the Howth gun running plot with Erskine Childers; and the first Irish International match played outside of Dublin or Belfast was played at Limerick Lawn Tennis Club in 1898.
One of our most famous Lions, Tom Clifford, is well covered within the publication.
Limerick Lions is available from O’Mahony’s Bookstore on O’Connell Street from July 1, and is already listed on Amazon.
