Two more of Ireland's distinguished rugby personalities, Tom Kiernan and Tony O'Reilly, were honoured today at a special luncheon in Dublin, to mark their induction into the Rugby Writers of Ireland Guinness Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was inaugurated by the Rugby Writers of Ireland in season 1986 - 87 to honour the "greats" of Irish rugby. Mr. Oliver Loomes, Guinness Brand Manager and Mr. Fred Cogley, Chairman of the Rugby Writers of Ireland presented the two new members of the Hall of Fame with their specially commissioned bronze sculptures.
Tom (TJ) Kiernan won Senior and Junior Cup Medals with PBC and played for Munster Schools before going on to join the UCC and Cork Constitution clubs. His representative team honours were for Munster, Ireland, the British and Irish Lions; The Barbarians and when he captained the combined Ireland - Scotland team (RFU Centenary Match 1970). Tom also won 54 caps for Ireland and captained his country on 24 occasions (a record). He was a member of the Lions team that toured South Africa in 1962 (one Test), captained the Lions in South Africa 1968 (four Tests) and won 13 Munster Senior League medals, three with University College, Cork and 10 with Cork Constitution. At the completion of his playing days he coached the Munster team that defeated the All Blacks at Thomond Park, Limerick in October 1978, and coached Ireland between 1980-83, highlighted by Ireland winning the Triple Crown in 1982, for the first time since 1949. Ireland also finished on top of the Five Nations Championship table in 1983.
Other notable landmarks in his glittering rugby career were that he was President of the Munster Branch in 1977-78; Centenary President of Cork Constitution 1991-92; Elected to I.R.F.U. Committee 1983-84, President of I.R.F.U. 1988-89. Has been the chairman of I.R.F.U. Game Development Committee, Chairman of I.R.F.U. Commercial Committee, International Board Representative / Chairman of ERC 1995-99; Chairman of the IRB's Policy Committee and Honorary Treasurer of the IRB since 1997; Director of Rugby World Cup (1999). Trustee of I.R.F.U. since 1992.
Tony (AJF) O'Reilly captained the Belvedere team that lost to Blackrock College in the final of the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup in 1954 and later played for the Leinster schools team before going on to play for the Old Belvedere, Dolphin and Leicester clubs. His representative team honours were for Leinster, Ireland, the British and Irish Lions, The Barbarians and the Combined Ireland - Scotland team. Tony O'Reilly made his international debut as an 18 year old in the centre against France on January 22nd, 1955 and went on to play 29 times for Ireland in an international career that spanned 16 seasons and three decades (1955-1970). He toured South Africa with The Lions in 1955 and was the youngest player to earn Lions selection at 19 years of age (a record that still stands) when he made his Test debut on the right wing before a then World record crowd of 95,000, at Ellis Park, Johannesburg on August 6th, 1955, scoring a try in the Lions 23-22 victory. He played in all four Tests and scored a try in the fourth in a series that was drawn 2-2. He scored a record 16 tries on the tour.
Tony was again a member of the Lions team that toured Australia and New Zealand in 1959 and played in all six Tests, two against Australia and four against New Zealand. He scored tries in the two Test wins against Australia and in the first and fourth Tests against New Zealand, thus bringing his total to six in Test matches, a Lions record. He also set a try scoring record on that tour with 22 touchdowns. His total of 38 tries for the Lions on two tours set a mark that has not been equalled. He won the last of his 29 caps against England at Twickenham on February 14th 1970, making an unexpected return to the international arena after an absence of seven years. Tony O'Reilly is a member of the I.R.F.U. Commercial Committee.
Filed by Sinéad Gleeson
