DECLAN Madden has been elected as the 135th President of the Irish Rugby Football Union.
Born and raised in Rathkeale, he is attached to Garryowen, a club with whom he was a successful past player and captain, and currently active on the administration front.
He was introduced to the sport through his time at St Munchin’s College.
On his election, Madden said: “Rugby has given me so much over the years, both from a playing and a volunteer perspective and it is a huge honour for me to now become the 135th President, in the year the Union celebrates its 150th anniversary.”
“I would like to thank my club Garryowen for their support and encouragement over the years. I am honoured to follow in the footsteps of WL Stokes, Jack Macauley, JM O’Sullivan, James Flynn, Dermot G O’Donovan, Kevin Quilligan, and his son John Quilligan, all former IRFU Presidents from this wonderful club.”
“The vision for tugby in Ireland is to ‘Inspire, Connect and Thrive”, and I am committed to driving this vision over the next year.
“The success of our men’s national team as back-to-back Guinness Six Nations champions, our women’s national team heading into a Rugby World Cup year, having both Sevens teams competing in the Paris Olympics and a thriving grassroots game means we now have more people than ever before playing and supporting the game,” Madden noted.
“However, without the incredible efforts from our volunteers in clubs and schools, the Union would simply be unable to provide the wonderful rugby service, that they do, in local communities. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our game, and I am really looking forward to visiting clubs all over the country over the next year to meet and greet everyone working to grow the game at every level.”
