‘I could never forget it. I loved every single minute’
Jonner O’Brien was one of many who will store away the programme of Saturday’s match and say a fond farewell to the passing of another Dublin landmark, and another era.
“I’ve been working at Lansdowne Road for about 25 years. I started out as a steward on a gate onto the terraces and about 15 or 20 years ago I was asked to do this entrance - and I’ve been here ever since.”
His new posting was no ordinary gate. He mans the entrance to the West Stand from the VIP car park and has made many famous friends during his tenure.
“There have been some faces famous going past,” he says with a laugh, “going back to big Willie John to the present bunch of lads. What’s nice is that a lot of the guys who were big name players and who are now big shots in rugby are still the most down to earth fellows you can meet. There is nothing snobbish about them.
“I always have a bit of craic and a few jokes with the likes of Syd Millar and Tom Kiernan. It’s nice that they take the time to stop and have a chat. You never think you would be so close to fellows like this. And it’s the same with Eddie O’Sullivan and team - I always wish them the best of luck as they go through and they seem to appreciate that.”
And he admits to some mixed feelings about the changing face of Lansdowne Road.
“I will be sad. I love going down there meeting these people and all of that will change. Something will be missing. By the time it is redeveloped I might be too old for this game. Let’s just say that I’m well over 21 now!
“I always found the staff down there from the management group of Lansdowne Road all the way down, to be great to work for and work with. It always gave you something to look forward too.
“Naturally you’d worry some of that family feeling might be lost in the changes. But that’s life. I’ll miss it but I could never forget it. I loved every single minute.”
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