The rugby community throughout Ireland has been saddened this week at the death of legendary Connacht player Ray McLoughlin.
McLoughlin, born in Ahascragh, Ballinasloe in 1938, learned his rugby at the local club and Garbally College, and throughout his stellar career played for Connacht 34 times - one of the province’s most capped players of the amateur era.
Known as one of the best exponents of the game with a meticulous understanding of , McLoughlin started out as a tighthead and played 40 times for his country over 14 seasons in what was a record at the time. He captained Ireland on seven occasions and twice toured with the British and Irish Lions.
Connacht Rugby paid its respects this week saying McLoughlin was regularly mentioned as one of Ireland’s greatest ever props, and was the first Connacht player to represent the Lions when he went on tour in 1966 to Australia and New Zealand where he played in three tests and 14 provincial matches.
Called up again for the 1971 Lions, McLoughlin was unfortunately injured and his tour cut short, but he went on to play with the Barbarians in 1973 against the All Blacks in Cardiff.
“He leaves an immeasurable impact on rugby in the West of Ireland. Everyone at Connacht Rugby sends on our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and everyone in the wider rugby community who had the pleasure of working with him.”
Ray McLoughlin, who studied at University College Dublin and lived in Dublin, was a successful businessman who also held many non-executive directorships, including Allied Irish Banks.
Pre-deceased by his wife Geradline, he is survived by children Lynne, Karen and Jennifer and their families.
