Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I am thrilled to support the motion. Senator O'Rourke, other Members – including Senator Higgins – from the other side of the House and I were happy were happy to be involved in the protest march from Baggot Street to the offices of the IRFU. Without telling Members my age, for the past 23 years I have been proud to be associated with club rugby, school rugby and provincial rugby, at junior and senior level, in Connacht. I know from where my colleague, Senator Ulick Burke comes, given that he taught in a school which is renowned with school rugby in Connacht.

My late husband was capped on three occasions for the province. My 21 year old son has two caps for Connacht to date. My second son has a cap for school rugby in Connacht. I am extremely proud of them. There is a cup – the Frank Feeney memorial cup – dedicated to the memory of my late husband for which juvenile teams from Connacht and Northern Ireland compete every May in Sligo.