Munster’s pride of Lions to receive special honour

THE SURVIVING 22 Munster Rugby Lions - and the three Wallace brothers, Richard, Paul and David in particular - will be honoured at a corporate lunch at the Maryborough House Hotel, Cork, on January 27.

It is already guaranteed to be an enormous success, with tables of 10 at a cost of €1,000 almost sold out. Each guest will receive an exclusive gift and a souvenir programme is also being published to mark the occasion.

The master of ceremonies is, fittingly enough, Cork’s own Michael Corcoran, RTÉ’s rugby commentator.

The function will bring together, for the first time, all of these players, dating back to Jim McCarthy and Mick Lane, who toured Australia and New Zealand in 1950.

McCarthy, Lane and Mick English of the 1959 tour will make a presentation of a specially-commissioned Cork Silver strawberry dish to the Wallaces to mark their unique position as the only three brothers ever to tour with the Lions.

Willie John McBride and Keith Wood will be the guest speakers, while another Lions legend, Fergus Slattery, will auction off exclusive Lions memorabilia, the highlight of which is a jersey autographed by each of the 22 Munster Lions, with each of their names embroidered onto it.

Among those who have already confirmed attendance are Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan, Tom Kiernan, Donal Lenihan, Michael Kiernan, Noel Murphy, Colm Tucker, Gerry McLoughlin, Barry Bresnihan, Keith Wood, Willie John McBride and Pat O’Keeffe, along with, of course, the Wallace brothers and Lane, McCarthy and English.

Genesis Publications, a leading publisher of signed and numbered limited edition books, are holding the Irish launch of the limited edition book, “The Lions - The Complete History of the British & Irish Rugby Union Team,” one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date books ever published on the history of this rugby institution, at the January luncheon.

Each limited edition book is personally signed by the author, David Whalmsley, four Lions captains and three opposing team captains, including Willie John McBride, John Dawes, Brian Lochore, Morné du Plessis, John Eales, Bill Beaumont and Gavin Hastings.

* Further enquiries from Michael O’Brien on 087-2129999.