Margaret Horgan Wins Volunteer Recognition Award

Margaret Horgan of Muskerry RFC is the first winner of the 2014-15 Munster Rugby Volunteer Recognition Award.

Margaret initially became involved with the club’s underage section in 2000 when she offered to help out a coach who had been unwell. Since that day she has become the face of Leprechaun rugby at Muskerry RFC and is now the club’s longest continuously serving coach.

Countless youngsters have passed through her hands over the last 14 years and indeed several of the current Muskerry first team began their rugby careers with Margaret.

Margaret is married to John and they have four children; Daniel (23), Trish (21), Killian (17) and Frankie (14).

The whole family are involved in rugby and husband John was captain and coach of the Muskerry rugby first team when she initially became involved. “As the club underage section was growing, I could see that there was a need for more involvement from parents,” said Margaret.

“When they began looking for coaches I decided to get involved. That was 14 years ago, I started out with the U-12s and worked with all different age groups. I have been with the Leprechaun Rugby group for a number of years now though and have great help from fellow coach Ber O’Connell who is with me every Saturday and her help makes it all very enjoyable and easy,” she added.

Margaret is also the Muskerry RFC Child Welfare Officer and she was full of praise for her fellow volunteers at Muskerry. “It’s a great club to be involved in as everyone from the President (Ger Desmond) down is prepared to get hands-on and help with the likes of fixing fences, putting up signs, painting and any of the other general tasks required,” she explained.

Margaret readily admits that she loves rugby and follows all the provincial teams and international matches on TV. “It’s a game for anyone and that's what I love about it. The kids are great fun and I love when I go into my local shop and some small child will come right up and say ‘Hi Margaret’. I feel like a celebrity! I also get invited to a lot of Saturday birthday parties so my social life is hectic!”

“Our season finishes every year in April with a Rugby Festival and this has been going on for the last nine years and is a great success. We have close to a thousand people in Muskerry on the day including up to 800 kids.

"The club members do all the preparation and work which includes a medal presentation and food for all attending. It’s a lot of effort but shows again the commitment of the members in ensuring the event is a great success.”

Fellow Muskerry RFC Committee member Aidan O’Connor summed up Margaret’s commitment when he stated: “Margaret is a classic example of the adage ‘If you want something done, ask a busy person’. She is a mother of four, who combines this role with working in the family business.

"Every Saturday morning, rain or hail, without complaint, Margaret brings unbelievable enthusiasm and energy to her Leprechaun coaching role and is a reassuring presence for parents whose children are playing rugby for the first time. When she is not out on the pitch she is the go-to person to organise catering for a visiting team. Margaret epitomises the volunteer ethos that drives underage rugby in clubs like Muskerry RFC.”

Munster Rugby is proud to acknowledge Margaret Horgan as an outstanding servant to rugby in the province.

The Munster Rugby Volunteer Recognition Programme was launched to give clubs and schools the opportunity to acknowledge the significant contribution made to rugby by volunteers throughout the province.

The Programme is open to any person currently associated with domestic rugby in Munster, in a non-paid capacity at a club, school, college, university or associated affiliate of the Munster Branch IRFU.

Successful nominees who meet the set criteria will be recognised for their efforts by receiving a prize package including tickets and full pre-match hospitality for two to a Munster match.

For full details of the nomination process, click here.