'It's kept me young' - Munster journey brought to book with supporter's photography

Ivan O'Riordan's book 'The Brave And The Faithful' captures a decade and a half following the province.

Ivan O’Riordan’s wonderful book celebrating 15 years of Munster Rugby through his photography is as much a testimony to the Limerick man’s enthusiasm as it is to the players he has captured across the 160 pages of “The Brave And The Faithful”.

It is also the 81-year-old’s way of raising funds to benefit two causes close to his heart, The AWARE Organisation and Limerick Youth Services, both of which are Munster Rugby’s nominated charities this season. O’Riordan had already raised €17,000 through his photography before The O’Brien Press published his work in this format, with a foreword by Paul O’Connell, and royalties from its sale will also find their way to those charities with more than 2000 copies already sold.

A Munster Rugby Supporters Club member, O’Riordan began his photography from the Thomond Park terraces before gaining pitch access and he told the Irish Examiner: “It's been a wonderful journey. I started taking Munster photos when I was in my early 60s and I'm 81 now. I got to know so many supporters, players, coaches. I've been to Parc de Princes on the pitch, Marseille, Murrayfield, Milton Keynes, all over and it's kept me young, it really has.

“I got so much pleasure out of it and then in turn was able to raise over €17,000 from the sale of my photos for the charities and I always give the players photos after matches and I go to training and that's how I got to know a lot of them as well. And I cannot say how much pleasure I've got from it.” 

Here are just six images, chosen by O’Riordan, who was only sorry he could not have included so many more of his favourite players. For those, you will have to buy the book.

The Brave And The Faithful – Celebrating Fifteen Years of Munster Rugby 2010-2025; Ivan O’Riordan; The O’Brien Press.

1. Ronan O’Gara scores against Ospreys, April 24, 2010.

Not strictly within the limits of the book which is from the 2010-11 season but there are so many famous players in this shot, and it's ROG scoring one of the 10 tries he scored for Munster, I just had to include it.

You know, Shane Williams, Dan Biggar, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mike Phillips, Lifeimi Mafi, Peter Stringer, Jean de Villiers and in the middle there on the right, Tom Gleeson.

Tom was an Irish under-age international but he gave up rugby a few years later and is now a doctor in Cork. Which is a great story in itself, the fact that among all these huge stars, you had this guy who had the tenacity to pursue a medical career and qualify.

2. Simon Zebo completes his hat-trick of tries against Northampton Saints, January 21, 2012.

They played this game at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, a soccer stadium, and Zeebs had intercepted in his own half and nobody followed him. So he just sauntered over and fell over the line, diving right in front of me, which was a great thrill.

And you could tell even then, he was a great character. In the photo you can see a green mark on his head because they tried to rub out the soccer lines and markings.

That night a few of us were in a restaurant in Milton Keynes and this chap came over to us and he said, ‘are you the guys who dug up my pitch today?’ It was Karl Robinson, the MK Dons Manager.

It was my decision to do it as a multi-image but I hadn't the ability or the skill to knit them together at the time. So a colleague of mine in Limerick Camera Club, John Hickey, stitched them together for me and that's what made the impact. I had an exhibition in 2012 and it raised €6000 for the charities. It was a huge seller.

3. Paul O’Connell steals a Saracens lineout, October 24, 2014.

My daughter, Jennifer, lived next door to Paul as their children were growing up and I got to know him very well so I had to include him, and the fact he's stealing a Saracens lineout typifies the man. You can see the effort on his face. I know it's a relatively small photograph, but you can see the sinews in his arm and that stretch as he’s stealing from George Kruis. And what a wonderful career he had.

4. CJ Stander on the charge against Racing 92, January 21, 2017.

A damp, dreary January night in Thomond Park. He didn't score, but he made a surging run towards the Ballynanty end. And again, it shows that determination and drive. And CJ gave everything for Munster.

Well, that encapsulates that, doesn't it? The effort he put in, he was a fan's favourite, friendly with everyone, had time for everyone. And it came as an awful shock when he announced his retirement at 31. Amazing. Just walked away. But a good guy.

I like the delta shape in the photo as well, the fact he's in the centre and they're fanning behind him.

5. Andrew Conway’s wonder try v Toulon, March 31, 2018.

The 74th minute of a Champions Cup quarter-final, Munster trailing 19-13 and attacking. The ball somehow comes back to Francois Trinh Duc. He kicks for touch.

Everyone stands still because they think the ball is going over for a throw in. Conway, his feet two inches from the line, stretches over the line, catches the ball and slaloms his way past four defenders. The big problem was Jean Kleyn was standing in the middle but he had the wit to put up his arms so as not to be seen to interfere. Ian Keatley converted for the win and we all went home feeling so elated, I think that try is etched in everyone's mind and will be forever.

6. Peter O’Mahony’s final home game v Benetton, May 16, 2025.

Pete went straight in from Pres to the academy and what a career he had. This was the final home game of the season and the week before they had beaten Ulster at Thomond Park to edge closer to a top-eight finish to make the URC play-offs.

He's not doing anything spectacular, he didn’t score a try he's just being Peter, really, isn't he? He's so hard to take down and by God, his drive and determination and the effort he put in, even there in his face, you can see the determination. It led to Lee Barron's try but that shot is so typical of Peter.