Rugby has found a home at IT Sligo following the official opening this week of a new rugby pitch.
The occasion was marked by two matches when the women’s team lined out against a side from DCU while the men took on Letterkenny IT under the watchful eye of their coaches Roy Cooper and Joseph Walsh.
Despite the long tradition of rugby at IT Sligo, the club has not had a home ground until now. But lecturer and club mentor Dave Roberts used the occasion to pay a warm tribute to staff at the Knocknarea Arena for their support and help.
Mr Roberts, a Connacht referee, also stressed the strong links between IT Sligo and Sligo Rugby Club. “Over the years Sligo Rugby Club generously shared their facilities with us,” said the lecturer .“I want to acknowledge that support and also the clubs in Ballina and Ballyhaunis where we also played home games.,” said Mr Roberts.
Rugby has always been an important part of the sporting life at IT Sligo and while the team may not have brought home as many trophies as their GAA and soccer counterparts, Mr Roberts said the philosophy of the club was about getting people to participate and enjoy each other’s company and enjoy the game. “We may not have won competitions but we have enjoyed ourselves”.
He pointed out that many IT Sligo club players who play with the college during the week, have traditionally gone home to clubs all over the country to places like Westport and Galway, Letterkenny and Waterford, at weekends. “Sadly some people cannot play for us as their coaches don’t want to risk them getting injured”, he pointed out.
Mr Roberts said that Erasmus students had also over the years played an important role in the club. “Every year we have four or five from places like Spain, France and Germany”.
He said that on such an important day they were also thinking of players they had lost, like former Business Studies student Gerard Vallely from Tuam who had loved the game and who had sadly passed away in 2010 .
“Every place I go to referee a game I meet a three or four players who were members of the IT Sligo club,” Mr Roberts pointed out. The club may not have its own ground until now but it did have a heart.”
Commenting on the Investment, Head of Development and Business Operations at IT Sligo, Gordon Ryan said: “The opening of the new rugby pitch is timely given the national focus on the Six Nations. At IT Sligo, we’re continuing to invest in our sporting facilities for the benefit of the student experience here, and for the wider community. With a fully equipped gymnasium, an international standard running track, GAA playing pitches and a modern astro turf facility, the Institute is a fantastic resource for the people of Sligo and the wider region.”
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