Umaga rocked by céad míle fáilte

ALL BLACKS captain Tana Umaga thanked the people of Donegal yesterday for their warm welcome, saying he’d expected “rocks to be thrown at him” when he came to Ireland.

The star centre was speaking in Donegal, where he and several All Black players and support staff had travelled to honour the memory of Dave Gallaher, the 1905 All Black captain.

Gallaher was born in Ramelton, Donegal, but emigrated as a child. He led the 1905 tourists, known as the “Originals”, before dying in the First World War and he is regarded as a hero in New Zealand culture.

“Going back to Dave Gallaher’s birthplace is very special to us,” said All Black legend Brian Lochore. “I was in Ireland in 1963, when we toured and played the provinces, and I came back in 1991 following the World Cup. Growing up in the 50s, you grew up with the legend of Dave Gallaher and the Originals. He was instrumental in setting up the tradition of the All Blacks, and it’s great to see where he came from.”

The All Blacks visited Letterkenny first on their trip to Donegal, where they attended a ceremony renaming Letterkenny RFC pitch the Dave Gallaher Memorial Park. Speaking at the ceremony, Letterkenny chairman Denis Faulkner said young boys running past the nameplate would be forever reminded of Gallaher.

Lochore was part of the travelling party, and he outlined the importance of their journey.

The delegation then visited Letterkenny IT, where they were welcomed by IRFU President Andy Crawford, and a presentation was made to the players. Centre Conrad Smith responded by saying: “It’s a privilege to come to Letterkenny. As New Zealanders we honour Dave Gallaher and keep him in our hearts, not just as a leader on the field of play but because he paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend our country and its values.”

The group then went on to Ramelton, where a plaque was unveiled at Gallaher’s birthplace.

Speaking at the Town Hall, Umaga thanked the people of Donegal for their warm welcome. In a wry reference to the Brian O’Driscoll spear-tackling controversy, he said: “I was expecting rocks to be thrown at me. I’m glad that hasn’t happened - and so are my family!”