Mike Miles Wins Volunteer Recognition Award

Mike Miles of Kenmare RFC is November’s winner of the Munster Rugby Volunteer Recognition Award.

Originally from Midleton in Cork, Mike moved to Kenmare 20 years ago. He initially joined Kenmare as a player and was central to the resurrection of the club in 2009.

He now coaches the U-12s and is the vice-chairman along with being one of the club’s chief fundraisers.

Commenting on his role in the revival of the club, Mike said: “We couldn’t let the club die so Pierce O’Neill came in as chairman, I became vice-chairman and Conn Crowley was elected as secretary. We stepped into the breach and we’ve been there ever since.”

Mike was a driving force in the summer’s visit to the town of the eight Munster players for the Munster Race which was a very special occasion.

“We had medals made up for the players and the Munster lads presented the medals and that was massive for the club.

“It was great recognition for our young players because up to that they had been training for a year and they had no game but they stayed training and fair play to them.

“We thought it would be a great opportunity to get the Munster players to present the medals to the kids. They were delighted and on cloud 9 for about two months after it!”

Mike was keen to praise his fellow volunteers at Kenmare: “There’s a great committee in place and it makes thing an awful lot easier – it’s a real team effort.

“A lot of credit has to go to Jerry O’Sullivan and Niall Duncan and there was great work done by former president Seán Daly and former secretary Simon Linnell too,” he added.

Kenmare’s honorary secretary Conn Crowley said: “It is a fact that without Mike Miles this club would not be in the positive position that it now is.

“He is simply irreplaceable. To describe him as a force of nature would be an understatement.

”Through his hard work he has managed to increase the number of kids in our mini section to a present figure of over 75 – a huge achievement in a town like Kenmare which is a major Gaelic Football stronghold.

“The kids absolutely love him and his sole focus is on the development of them as rugby players and individuals.

Crowley continued: “No task is too big for Mike. His enthusiasm is boundless, he is constantly developing ideas and following through on them. Mike is our most active and enthusiastic fundraiser and is always raising much needed money for the club.”

Munster Rugby is proud to acknowledge Mike Miles 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, please click here.