As Edenderry RFC continue their 60th anniversary celebrations, Micil Glennon spoke to Christy Dunne, captain of the 1983 Towns Cup winning team.
You were a bit of a late starter, in rugby terms. Why was that?
I was playing football and I got injured in the league against Kerry in 1974. I was out for about six months and one evening in June 1975, Jimmy Moore, President of the Rugby Club, knocked on my door asking if I would come out and play. So I played in the Sevens tournament and then I started with the thirds, with Danny O’Neill, Ronnie Kavanagh and Ike Foran and that’s how I got involved. I was 24 at the time.
How did you develop as a player?
I got on the First XV in 1977, and I played about 10 matches at wing-forward but Brian Cotter, who was coach at the time, told me I wasn’t going to make it at there because I was really a Gaelic footballer so he put me in at loose-head prop. I was made captain in 1981/82. That was the season that Naas put in an objection against us and we were thrown out of the Towns Cup.
What is your most memorable moment from the famous 1983 Cup win?
Beating Naas the year after they got us thrown out of the Cup was very sweet but my most poignant memory was standing up receiving the trophy. I looked down at Danny O’Neill, who was a selector and a great mentor of mine, and there were tears in his eyes, I suppose the fact that he wasn’t well. He died a couple of months after that. That’s my abiding memory of winning the Cup.
Who was favourite player?
As a role model, there were very few equal to Frank O’Meara, in terms of commitment and dedication. He was also a very good rugby player to play with. He had a great way of bring people with him and a great personality.
Charlie McCarthy was the best player who ever played out there – he only played for one season – but Frank O’Meara was my favourite player.
Any other favourite memories from your playing days?
We played the highly rated Bective in 1980 in the Senior Cup, and with 10 minutes to go we were only three points down. We put in a huge performance for a junior team. That was very exciting, it was great to go up and play a senior club.
And off the field?
One of the great things about when I played was the social side of things. We’d play on a Sunday and drink nine or ten pints afterwards. Even for the away games, you could have two 45-seater buses with travelling supporters as well. The wives and girlfriends would come to the matches and they would always be great sessions after the games. I suppose the whole culture has changed now.
How has the club come on in recent years?
I think Edenderry have taken the right road in terms of deciding where they are at and where they are going. They have very good facilities now and it’s very conducive to underage and development rugby. Unfortunately, you lose players and guys go away to work or to college but I think Edenderry has a great structure and has come on in leaps and bounds in the last three years.