Charlie Buckley Elected Munster Rugby President

The Annual General Meeting of the Munster Branch was held tonight at the Student Centre of UCC before a large attendance.

The outgoing President Gerry O’Shea in his address thanked everyone for their help and cooperation over the season and proposed Charlie Buckley, UCC, as the new President of the Munster Branch for season 2017/18.

Originally from Macroom, in the Muskerry region of Cork County, Charlie’s early sporting education was through the town’s GAA club, where he played throughout the age grades, winning mid-Cork titles all the way up until he reached the Senior team.

However, attending Rockwell College saw the Corkman pick up the rugby bug, where only Johnny Moroney’s return kept him out of the Senior Cup side, as he kept the Gaelic Games going during the summer.

Moving to the city saw allegiances move to rugby on a full-time basis, as after a bad knee injury Charlie joined Old Christians in a coaching capacity, setting up the club’s Underage section in the late 70s.

“We went around to the neighbours in Dillons Cross, St Luke’s, Mayfield, and in a traditionally GAA stronghold we got a team together in 12 months. We went from U12 through all the age grades, until we got to U18, where we won the league, the cup, and the Kiely Cup, beating Young Munster in the final.

“I think that was one of the best days of my life, to have gotten all of these guys together with no background, bringing them through to beat a team like Young Munster at Musgrave Park (Now Irish Independent Park), it was really special.”

From there Buckley tied up with a certain Garrett Fitzgerald – now CEO of Munster Rugby – who, having just been appointed head coach of the Munster U20s, asked the Macroom native to help with the U20s and the backline.

Charlie then got involved in running residency coaching courses, first in his alumni Rockwell, and then at Thomond College, seeing through the likes of Declan Kidney and Eddie O’Sullivan through their doors and attracting people from all over the country. Buckley also acted as secretary for the Munster coaching committee for 13 years, acting on the first ever Munster Youth committee.

Charlie has already acted as President of UCC, and says he owes a lot to the University in the progression of his career, as well as his twin brother Shay.

“I have to be so thankful to UCC for everything they’ve done for me. Your club is really the bedrock of everything. There’s a small group but a very tight knit bunch, and they’re absolutely brilliant at running the club.

“Over the last three months we’ve been looking at participation numbers, and that would be a major priority to try and get and keep more players by improving the competition model.”

Outside of rugby Charlie worked as an accountant for many years before upping sticks and fulfilling a lifetime ambition by starting a bar in Dennehy’s Cross in the city bounds, which he ran for 10 years. He again took a risk in procuring a double-kiosk in Merchants Quay, now run by his son Shane.

Charlie has three children, his daughters Laura and Karina as well as Shane, and currently resides in Douglas.

It completes a nice circle for Charlie, who will now again form that original UCC team with Fitzgerald, this time as President and CEO of Munster Rugby.

“I suppose the person I have to thank the most is Garrett, from starting as a coach in UCC and then as a selector in Munster and through the ranks, he’s had the biggest influence on my career by far.

“When I became President it was like winning the Masters, putting the blazer on me! Little did I think then that I would be in the position I am in now, and obviously it’s an extremely proud day, not only to represent my province but also to represent my club as well.”