Presidents Message

January is called after Janus who was one of the ancient Roman Gods. He was the God of doors and gates. He was featured as having one head with two faces facing in opposite directions.

January is called after Janus who was one of the ancient Roman Gods. He was the God of doors and gates. He was featured as having one head with two faces facing in opposite directions.

I feel that this is an apt portrayal of the situation facing Munster for this month as we shall have to keep our eyes covering all directions when we travel to the Eastern Isle to face our old adversaries from Gloucester and then beard them again back at home in Limerick on the following weekend.

I would be certain that Gloucester will not drop their guard this time out. After that we shall have to undertake a tricky trip to Treviso where,no doubt,our hosts will want to gain some revenge for the Thomond result. Then we will meet Bourgoin who will come over from France burgeoning for satisfaction after losing their home record to us in December.

This all amounts to a huge ask for all our players and management team but I have no doubt that Jim Williams and his squad of Lusty Lads will be equal to the task and get us through that door to a home draw in the quarter-final of the European Cup.

On the domestic front Dominic Crotty’s wife, Karen, had their first child, a boy on 27th December and Brian Hickey, Fergal O’Callaghan and his fitness colleague, Mark McManus all entered into the holy state of Matrimony in the month of December.Congratulations are due to all of them.

I gather Donnacha’s visit to Santa was a sight to see. Lucy came home for her first Christmas, it was great.Unfortunately I gained a few Kilos over the holiday period (food rather than drink induced) so I will certainly have to suffer in the short term.

Congratulations are also due to Connaught for their success to date in the Parker Pen Shield and to Ulster on winning the inaugural Celtic Cup.

Len Harty