Mayor’s first dilemma: How many caps he won

Former rugby great Cllr Gerry McLoughlin (Lab), on being elected Mayor of Limerick last night, showed he is not a Ross O’Carroll Kelly type when it comes to bragging about sporting achievements.

As he donned his scarlet robe of office, he was asked by a reporter how many times he wore the Irish jersey. After a pause, he replied: “I don’t know exactly. I think I got one more than Pat Whelan. I was on the subs’ bench more often then I played for the international side.”

Further pressed on the exact number of caps he won, Mr McLoughlin said: “I think it was 18 or 19, I must ask somebody to look it up for me.”

Moments later, after a consultation with a Shannon RFC supporter, he declared: “I got 18 caps for Ireland.”

Gerry, aged 61, is best remembered for his try against England at Twickenham, which proved crucial to Ireland securing the Triple Crown in 1982. He was also on the Munster team which defeated the All Blacks in Thomond Park in 1978.

He resigned his teaching job in 1981 to join the Irish team in South Africa and was later forced to emigrate to Wales where he opened a pub.

On his return to Limerick he ran the Triple Crown pub.