Bertie Smith Elected New Munster President

The Annual General Meeting of the Munster Branch was held last night at Cork Constitution’s clubhouse in Temple Hill before a large attendance.

The out-going President Mick Goggin in his address thanked everyone for their help and cooperation over the season and proposed Bertie Smith, Cork Constitution FC, as the new President of the Munster Branch for season 2015/16, which was seconded by Peter Good – Cork Constitution President.

A native of Timoleague in Co. Cork, in his playing days Smith excelled at a number of sporting pursuits, namely rugby, athletics, hockey and Gaelic football.

Competing for Bandon AC, as a triple-jumper his accolades included the Irish U16 title in 1967 and the Inter Schools triple jump record of 13.38 metres in 1969. Winning representation with Munster Schools in hockey, he was also a member of the Carbery team that won the 1971 Cork Senior Football Championship.

Smith was first introduced to rugby while attending Bandon Grammar School, later joining Bandon RFC and playing in the 1973 Junior Cup Final against what would be his next club – Cork Constitution.

Following his move to Con, Smith won representation on the Munster Junior team and by 1975 was a member of the Munster Senior side, playing in the province’s 13-15 loss to Australia in 1976 having also represented the first Ireland B team (now Ireland Wolfhounds) against France the previous year.

Following retirement as a player Smith joined the Munster Association of Referees in 1982, taking charge of his first Senior interprovincial – Ulster v Leinster – in 1986 and running the lines as a touch judge in the first Heineken Cup Final in 1996 before refereeing his first International – Scotland v Wales – a number of months later.

Upon his retirement from refereeing in 2002, Smith was invited to join the Irish Referee Committee, part of a new coaching structure for referee development and was later appointed to the performance review panel for those officiating in International and Heineken Cup games.

Joining the Munster Branch as Junior Vice President in 2013 and as the outgoing Senior Vice President, Smith last night became the 118^th Senior President of the Munster Branch.

Smith is also currently chairman of Munster Branch Age Grade Competitions Committee and speaking last night said, “I am indeed honoured to be President of Munster for the coming season 2015/16. My congratulations are due to Mick Goggin who held the position with distinction during the past season. One never seeks these accolades but it is more of being in the right place at the right time and I must thank Cork Constitution for the confidence they have bestowed in me in nominating me for this position. I am most conscious of the role I am holding over the next 12 months. I will try my best to ensure that participation and standards at all levels will grow under my watch and I will endeavour to ensure that the blazer will be in safe keeping to pass on to Gerry O’Shea of Young Munster next year.”

Click here for the AGM Financial Update.

Munster Branch Officers 2015/16

President: Bertie Smith (Cork Constitution FC)
Senior Vice President: Gerry O'Shea (Young Munster RFC)
Junior Vice President: Charlie Buckley (U.C.C. RFC)
Honorary Secretary: Joe Murphy (Midleton RFC)
Honorary Treasurer: Tom Kinirons (UL Bohemian RFC)

Senior Club Delegates

Bruff RFC: Richard Leonard
Cashel RFC: Peter Silke
Cork Constitution FC: Greg Barrett
Dolphin RFC: Mick Magner
Garryowen FC: Jim Gibson
Highfield RFC: Mick Carroll
Kanturk RFC: P.J. Cremin
Midleton RFC: Denis Kelleher
Nenagh Ormond RFC: Sean McCullough
Old Crescent RFC: Ken Lyons
Shannon RFC: John Sheerin
Sunday's Well: Nicholas Comyn
Thomond RFC: Joe Shaughnessy
U.C.C. RFC: Owen Dineen
U.L. Bohemian RFC: Mick Nix
Young Munster RFC: Gerry Quaid
Junior Rep East: Bobby O'Brien
Junior Rep North: Johnny King
Junior Rep South: John O'Brien
Junior Rep West: Tim Herlihy
Youths: Dermot Kelly
Schools: Declan English
Munster Women: Paul Condon
Munster Referees: Noel McMahon
Hon. Secretary North: Brian Nolan
Hon. Secretary South: Deirdre McCarthy
Hon. Secretary Junior Committee: Olan Allen