Sport and political figures line out to pay tribute to ROG

He spent a career standing behind the big guys, but last night the heavyweights lined out in Cork to give Ronan O’Gara a tribute fitting for Ireland’s highest points scorer.

Leading figures in Munster and Irish rugby were joined by other Irish sporting heroes such as fellow Corkman Roy Keane and the top figures in the worlds of politics and entertainment to honour one of the finest out-halfs the world has ever seen.

Cork developer Michael O’Flynn was the man who spearheaded the event and explained why he was so keen to do so.

“Ronan O’Gara is a hero in a true sense of the word,” he said. “What he has done for Irish rugby, for Munster and for world rugby is phenomenal. To have his evening celebrated like this in his home city is really important.”

One of the most apt tributes paid to O’Gara came from a Limerick man.

“Without him Munster would not have been what they were,” said former prop, Peter Clohessy.

Fellow Munster stalwart Donncha O’Callaghan developed the point.

“Its great to see ROG singled out on his own and to get a bit of the acclaim on his own tonight. There are Man of the Match awards, but our game is a team sport and we win together. His talent led to us winning and his hard work led to us getting results.”

Munster captain Peter O’Mahony highlighted how inspirational he was for the next generation of Irish rugby. “It's exactly what ROG deserves,” he said. “There are a lot of people here from all over the country and it's just what ROG deserves. He has given so much to the country and Cork especially.”

But the last word on his career must go to the man himself. “When I started playing for Munster there were 400-500 people watching and now there is 80,000. We have had every emotion from crushing disappointments to the best of days but what I will remember were the great nights after games as well as winning stuff because going forward you need all the friends you have.”