Ruck on up to Donnybrook

Leinster schools rugby players tog out for Jack Kavanagh Trust. Yesterday’s Leinster School’s Senior Cup Final was an extraordinary match and a roller-coaster ride for Clongowes supporters. The day will live long in our collective memory and a fuller account will appear on this website shortly, but in the meantime we have another very important encounter between the gentlemen of Clongowes and Blackrock and their respective Ignatian and Spiritan confrères Belvedere, Gonzaga, St. Michael’s, St. Mary’s and Templeogue Colleges in a fundraiser for the Jack Kavanagh Trust on Thursday next (20th March at 18.30) in Donnybrook.   In a game that will resonate greatly with Ross O’Carroll-Kelly fans, rivals will combine to form two Barbarians-like teams who will try to outscore each other. A similar match was played in 2004 in aid of another spinal injury victim. Rob Kearney, Johnny Sexton and Kevin McLoughlin each played that day. Will this match, refereed by Alain Roland, also showcase some of our future Internationals? Tickets Ground entry €10, Stand ticket €25, Premium ticket €70 to include stand entry and a pre-match lunch in Old Belvedere. A limited number of family tickets are available for €60 to admit two adults and two children to the stand. Tickets are available from the participating schools, Ticketmaster and Lifestyle sports outlets in Donnybrook, Dundrum, Carrickmines and Mary Street. For more information call 086 8158879 or visit: http://www.jackkavanaghtrust.com/upcoming-events.asp   Jack Kavanagh Despite paralysis following a C4/C5 spinal injury, Jack has been an inspiration to us all. In the past seven months he has returned to Trinity College to recommence his studies in pharmacy. Despite some initial difficulties Jack has been able to enjoy college life once again primarily thanks to the great support he has received. Furthermore, fundraising efforts thus far have facilitated visits to the UK where Jack has met with specialists who have shown him the capabilities of his body. Jack also encountered some individuals who were living proof that, through sheer determination and hard work, improvement is possible. With Trinity College also sending a fitness instructor to be trained up in this area, Jack has been able to embark on a physical programme that is designed to push his body to the limits – just as he had always done as an accomplished windsurfer. Yet while considerable progress has been made, Jack is all too aware that his life journey will be very different to what he had envisaged when leaving Clongowes on Union Day 2011. There will be many tough days ahead and he will need plenty of physical, moral and financial support.