The city’s oldest rugby rivalry is renewed once more on St Patrick’s Day when 36 teams from Galwegians and Corinthians do battle for the annual Glynn Cup.
Commemorating the contribution to local and Irish rugby of Galway’s JJ Glynn who died tragically in 1959, the cup was first played for 54 years ago this St Patrick’s Day as an annual match between the clubs’ senior teams. Now, under an innovative new format, every team in each club competes in the festival, which also incorporates the Langan Trophy.
"This is the fourth year since we revived and revamped the Glynn Cup and it has proved to be a spectacular success,” says Galwegian president Noel Leader. “ Our two clubs have had a long-standing and healthy rivalry from which many friendships have been forged, and this has served the city and local sporting community well over the years.
“I would encourage everyone to join us at Crowley Park on Saturday for what will prove to be a spectacular festival of rugby where we will showcase all that is good about the game of rugby football."
The first ball will be kicked at 10.30am on St Patrick’s Day and carry on non-stop throughout the day with more than a dozen matches before the grand finale between senior teams at 3pm.
Rynal Coen RIP
This annual Glynn Cup fixture will also remember one of Galwegian great players of the 50s, Rynal Coen, who passed away recently after a short illness. Rynal Coen was captain of the inaugural Galwegians team that contested the Glynn Cup with Corinthians in 1959.
The well-known Gort businessman captained the club in 1958/1959, and also played for Connacht. He continued to support the club for many years, serving as club president and as a trustee, and was a long standing member of Gort Rugby Cub. Among his many business and community interests, he also served on the board of the Galway Hospice.
Rynal Coen was an ‘old school’ gentleman with a keen sense of loyalty and fairness who will be sadly missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife Dairin, children Peter, Suzie, Richard, Jennifer, Sheena, and Bernard; grandchildren Anna, Ben, Ella, Matthew and Andrew and his brothers and sister David, Dermot, and Rita.
Galwegians 90th gathering
St Patrick’s Day will culminate in the Great Galwegian Gathering at the Radisson Hotel in celebration of the club’s 90th anniversary. President Michael D Higgins will attend the event and will receive a presentation from the club’s oldest player Brendan Guerin and a player from the youth academy. The guest speaker is John Killeen, a long time supporter and sponsor, and also CEO of Let’s Do It Global.
