RUGBY IN DONEGAL RECEIVES MAJOR INVESTMENT The Irish Rugby Union (IRFU) has recognised the need to make a substantial investment in Donegal to see the game develop into a major sport in the County and the remote areas of North West Ireland by recognising the establishment of the Donegal Community Rugby Project (DCRP). The project will receive funding and resources valued in excess of half a million euros over the next three years. The Project was officially launched on Thursday 18 October 2007 in Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey with a large gathering of representatives from the four clubs in Donegal, namely Ballyshannon, Donegal Town, Inishowen and Letterkenny, together with those from a number of primary and secondary schools in the County as well as members of the public. Senior officials from the IRFU and Ulster Branch were in attendance including Ulster Squad member and Ireland International Brian Young. Graeme Cattermole, Chairman of the DCRP, in welcoming those gathered referred to the history of rugby in the County which was first played some 35 or so years ago during which time clubs have been established, some of which no longer exist. In those early years rugby was not played in the schools and the clubs that were established had to base their recruitment on word of mouth and or the publicity of their activities through the local press. Today there are four clubs based in Donegal with each club being of different size based on the number and types of teams they field and their club facilities. Three of the four clubs field teams at Youth level. Mini rugby was only established in the past two years within two of the four clubs. All the clubs have had to work extremely hard of their own accord to recruit participants whether they be adult or junior players as well as the various volunteers to coach, referee or administer the clubs. In 2002 the Donegal Town Club took the bold decision to appoint and fund their own Youth Development Officer who was Jonathan Llewhellin, to work in and around the Donegal Town area introducing the game into as well as building links between the schools and the club. In due course Jonathan became an employee of the IRFU with the responsibility of undertaking rugby development work thorough out the whole of the County of Donegal for the benefit of all four clubs. David Workman, the President of the Ulster Branch spoke in support of the initiative that was the first of it’s kind in Ireland. He complemented those individuals that had had the vision to create the Project, which had been some eighteen months in the planning. David indicated that the Ulster Branch would be monitoring the performance of the Project against a number of agreed key performance indicators. In addition they would be responsible, on behalf of the IRFU, to provide the promotional and marketing support for the Project. He expressed the thanks of the Ulster Branch to all those involved. Jonathan Llewhellin then explained that the Project was founded on six objectives that look to build a rugby community in Donegal, which would promote a life long learning experience in rugby. He indicated how the project planned to achieve those objectives with the most challenging objective being to identify, establish and develop coaches and referees at all age levels as well as the volunteers to undertake the administrative duties within the clubs. Jonathan stated his belief that if the Project could harness the ethos of rugby with the community spirit that exists in Donegal then all the objectives would be achieved. Finally John Callaghan, Vice President of the IRFU spoke of his hope that in the not too distant future young rugby hopefuls from Donegal would wear the colours of the province and Ireland. He believed there were bound to be young players capable of eventually rising to the highest possible level of the game. It was a main objective of the IRFU that the game be improved and developed at grass roots level. Mr Callaghan went on to say it was very important to tap into the interest that is currently in the game and his hope that the traditional values of the game could be upheld. It was for these reasons that the IRFU had given its support to this very important initiative that would in due course be replicated in other areas of the country over the next few years. In concluding the formal part of the evening Graeme Cattermole thanked the Irish Rugby Union, the Irish Sports Council and the Ulster Branch of the IRFU for their assistance and guidance in the development of the project. He also thanked the Project sponsors: - Donegal Sports Partnership who had to date been supporting the rugby development work in the County and who would now become an active participant in the management of the Project. Kelly’s Toyota who had kindly agreed to provide new vehicles annually to each member of the Project’s staff. Jackson’s Hotel for agreeing to make available various facilities to the Project. Kukri Sports for donating rugby kit for certain school rugby initiatives that had been established within the County. Donegal Internet Web Design who would be managing and running the Project website.