Michael Keane Elected Munster Rugby President

The Annual General Meeting of the Munster Branch was held tonight at Tralee RFC before a large audience.

The outgoing President Ger Malone in his address thanked everyone for their help and coordination over the season and proposed Michael Keane, Tralee RFC, as the new President of the Munster Branch for season 2019/20.

Originally from Skibbereen, and with a sporting background steeped in GAA, Mike was a late converter to rugby and played his first game for County Cavan RFC after graduating college and securing work in the Ulster province.

Mike spent two seasons with County Cavan RFC before moving closer to home and joining up with Tralee RFC in the 1985/86 season.

“My background was in GAA, but the camaraderie of rugby stood out to me and I really enjoyed my time playing all across the backline.

“You played hard, you trained hard and you socialised afterwards with your teammates and your opponents.”

Mike spent four years playing in Tralee before moving abroad for a while, returning to the Kerry club in 1992 not long before an injury ruled him out and a passion for coaching emerged.

Mike was very much involved with the underage section before spending some time with the 1^st XV as a backs coach as well as the Women’s XV.

During this time, Mike also occupied the position of fixtures secretary at the club and continued with both roles until taking over as Munster Junior Vice-President.

Mike’s involvement with the Munster Branch and their committees started in 1997/98, representing Kerry clubs on the Munster Junior Committee before joining the Rugby Committee as a Junior club representative.

“I spent a number of years as a Junior club representative as well as holding the position of secretary for the Rugby Committee under Ger Malone and Bertie Smith for four years.”

As the first president elected from a Kerry club, Mike has maintained strong ties with Tralee, a club that has developed the careers of Munster and Ireland Women’s captain Ciara Griffin, Munster player and Ireland Women’s international Siobhan Fleming, and Ireland international Ultan Dillane among others.

“Tralee is one of the four oldest clubs in the province and were one of the stronger Junior clubs over the years but like most rural clubs, has suffered from the woes of emigration.

“The underage section has always been a strength, attracting good numbers across the age groups and many of Kerry’s GAA stars have worn the club colours.

“The Women’s section is arguably the club’s biggest success having spent two years in the AIL and more recently, the club is growing its own underage girls’ section having combined with Listowel RFC for a number of seasons.”

Outside of rugby, Mike enjoys a game of golf at his local courses, Castlegregory, where he is a former club captain and secretary, and Tralee.

Mike has three children, Colin, Deirdre and Barry and resides with his wife Noreen in Tralee, County Kerry.