JACK Rafferty (St Michael’s RC) partnered Jonah Kirby of Kenmara RC to claim a superb gold Junior Men’s Double Sculls final at the World U19 Championships in Trakai, Lithuania.
The pair, roared on from the banks by a huge travelling support, much of which was from Limerick, won by clear water from Greece in second and third-placed Germany.
An abiding memory for the new World Champions will have been the playing of our national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann.
Meanwhile, clubmates Evan O’Byrne helped Ireland to gold in the Junior Quadruple Scull ‘B’ final, and Clóda Phillips was a member of the team which finished second in the Women’s Four ‘B’ decider.
A little-known fact about St. Michael’s RC is that it won the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship of 1895.