Mullingar Rugby Club celebrates its centenary
Former Irish and Munster rugby star Alan Quinlan is the guest of honour at the Centenary celebration ball for the Mullingar Rugby Club on Sunday, in the Mullingar Park Hotel.
The event has generated great interest among local enthusiasts and a special evening of celebration awaits, with great memories of 100 years of the club set to be recalled.
Alan Quinlan was educated at Abbey CBS in Tipperary and worked for a motor dealer after leaving school. He began his rugby career with Clanwilliam FC where he captained the Irish Youth Team against Scotland in 1993. Alan moved from Clanwilliam to join Shannon U20s in 1994.
He began playing for Munster in 1996 and captained the youths’ team before becoming a regular in the first team. In May 2006 he made a comeback from a cruciate ligament injury earlier in the season to win both the AIB League Division 1 title with Shannon and the Heineken Cup with Munster after a late appearance from the bench in the Heineken Cup Final win over Biarritz in Cardiff. He captained the side from Number Eight in Munster’s upset victory over Ulster in Ravenhill in the 2007 Magners League. He was voted Man of the Match as Munster beat Toulouse 16–13 on 24 May 2008 to win the Heineken Cup for a second time. He was part of the Squad that won the 2008 – 2009 Magners League.
In total he holds six All Ireland League medals with Shannon, as well as two Heineken Cup medals and two Celtic League Medals with Munster. Alan won his 201st cap against Leinster, equalling Anthony Foley’s club record for caps, on 2 October 2010. He became Munster’s most capped player ever on 16 October 2010, against RC Toulon in the Heineken Cup.
Alan represented Ireland ‘A’ between 1998 and 2001 and made his senior debut for the Irish national team in October 1999 as a replacement in a Test against Romania. He played his first Six Nations match against Italy in 2001. He was a part of Ireland’s squad at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia and scored two tries in the tournament before dislocating his shoulder scoring a vital try against Argentina in the pool stages, which ended his involvement. He took his caps to a total of 27 by playing in the Autumn Internationals of 2008 against Canada and the All Blacks.
Proud Century of history and achievement
Mullingar Rugby Club has built a legacy of resilience, growth, and sporting excellence. The club’s journey began in 1925 when a group of rugby enthusiasts convened at the Central Hotel on Oliver Plunkett Street (opposite Tom Birmingham’s). Spearheaded by pioneers J.E. Wallace, J Doyle, Dr J. O’Sullivan, J Brophy, J.M. Winckworth, and S.K. Brabazon, they established a rugby club that would go on to shape the sporting fabric of Mullingar.
In its early days, Mullingar played matches at the Showgrounds, which formed part of the Newbrook racecourse. Opponents included clubs like Cavan, Kells, Ballymahon, Kilbeggan, Trinity, and Shannon Buccaneers. However, by 1935/36, a lack of players caused the club to falter temporarily.
The story of Mullingar Rugby Club truly began to flourish when it was revived in April 1944. Since then, despite the occasional challenge, the club has steadily grown, making its mark on rugby in Leinster and beyond.
Early success and Towns Cup triumphs
The club’s first taste of success came in March 1947 when it reached the Leinster Towns Cup semi-final after victories over Tullamore and Birr. Although Mullingar fell narrowly to Curragh Command (3-0) in a Donnybrook showdown, it was a sign of things to come.
In 1954, Mullingar claimed its first Towns Cup victory. After a series of hard-fought wins over Dundalk, Navan, and North Kildare, the team faced Naas in the final on April 11th in Tullamore. A solitary try from Lenzie O’Sullivan following a "foot rush" sealed a 3-0 victory, with Milo Cox leading the team as captain.
Two years later, Mullingar lifted the Towns Cup again, under the captaincy of Mick Nugent. With the addition of two former Irish internationals, Kevin Quinn and Mick (Yak) Hillery, Mullingar triumphed over Kilkenny in the final. Milo Cox’s two penalties secured a 6-3 win and solidified the club’s standing as a rugby force.
Though Mullingar reached Towns Cup finals in 1989, 1993 (after a replay), and 1996, victory proved elusive.
A permanent home at cullion
Mullingar Rugby Club has had several homes over the years, including the Camp Field. In 1977, the club purchased and opened its grounds at Cullion, a significant milestone in its history. The grounds expanded further in 1987, with the addition of a second pitch in 1990.
The move to Cullion also laid the foundation for youth rugby, which started in 1978 and has since gone from strength to strength. The introduction of youth teams has been a cornerstone of the club’s development, producing countless talented players and fostering a love for rugby in the community.
Joe Schmidt years
The 1990s marked a turning point for the club with the introduction of outside coaching expertise. One of the most notable appointments was that of a young New Zealander, Josef Charles Schmidt, in 1991. Joe, who later became synonymous with Irish rugby success, left a lasting impression during his time in Mullingar.
He and his wife Kelly became beloved figures in the club, and Joe remained connected to Mullingar long after his departure. In fact, he returned to celebrate with his former teammates after winning his first Heineken Cup with Leinster.