Crescent stars return for tour of duty

Four of Crescent Comprehensive most distinguished sporting alumni returned to the Limerick school yesterday for the official opening of a new trophy room.

Sister and brother Gina and Conor Niland were the country’s highest ranked tennis players for many years, Eoin Reddan is a multi-capped Leinster and Ireland scrum-half while David Wallace has earned almost every honour the game of rugby could bestow on an outstanding back-row forward. All four spoke of their delight at returning to their alma mater which has enjoyed success across the sporting spectrum along with in the areas of science, drama, music and art. Apart from all the silverware, the walls of the assembly room are also adorned by the many Irish and Munster jerseys won by a succession of past pupils. These were augmented yesterday when Irish Schools players Michael O’Donnell and Calvin Nash presented their national jerseys to school principal Mick Cuddihy while there was also special mention for Basketball star Jordan Hehir.

Don Reddan, Eoin’s father and a distinguished player in his time with Old Crescent, Galwegians, Munster and Connacht, is President of the Past Pupils Union that has provided the new facility.

“While I now live in Dublin and play with Leinster, this school and Limerick in general remain very special for me”, Eoin declared. “I have the happiest memories of a great school where I made many lifelong friends. I am very proud of the Crescent and what it has achieved. Even though we had some very good teams in my time here, we weren’t as good as the current crop who have won the Senior Cup for the past two years. The provision of the trophy cabinet is a fine opportunity to show off what is happening and no doubt will continue long into the future.”