UL Bohs’ John Keane Wins Volunteer Recognition Award

John Keane of UL Bohemian RFC is the latest winner of the Munster Rugby Volunteer Recognition Award. John is a born and bred Limerick man and has served as a volunteer with Bohs for over 50 years in various capacities.

John started out as a winger with the club’s Junior Thirds team and took up many roles in the club’s administration section following his retirement from the game. As a former Honorary Secretary of the Club, John has now taken up the role as Club Registrar lending his support to in excess of 600 members.

Outside of rugby, John is a retired training advisor with FAS and currently volunteers with the Coroners Court. He also served with the Reserve Forces, retiring after 42 years of service with the rank of Commandant.

With a passion for the development of women’s rugby, John also serves as the squad coordinator for the Bohs Senior Women’s team with duties including arranging transport, gear and match day photography.

In his capacity as an amateur rugby journalist, John is also the chief match reporter for the club’s women’s team and his reports on the club website are both insightful and a great promotional tool for bringing the women’s game to a much wider audience.

John visited Milan to witness the Ireland Women claim the Grand Slam Trophy in 2013 and was very proud to have seven of the Bohs women involved in the squad. Those included Women’s World Player of the Year Niamh Briggs and Fiona Coghlan, who captained the side. To add to his merits, John has also recently received the Limerick Service to Sports Awards for people involved in all sports.

UL Bohs club member Paul Hennessy said “John’s contribution to the club is immeasurable in many ways. His toughest job is collecting subs from members which is particularly difficult in the recessionary times. He attends all the training sessions and matches for the Women’s team up and down the country and his been known to travel to foreign climes in support of both the club and national teams. His mentoring skills are greatly appreciated by the players and his promotion of the women’s game within our club structures is outstanding. John’s commitment to the club is greatly appreciated by all at UL Bohemian RFC and he is a very worthy recipient of this award.”

Munster Rugby is proud to acknowledge John Keane 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.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of every sport and leisure organisation in Ireland. Without these people our clubs and organisations would cease to exist.

The programme will reward and acknowledge the efforts of volunteers who devote countless hours’ week in week out, year after year to provide a safe and enjoyable environment at the grass roots level of the game. From the kitchen worker to the weekend linesman to the parents that manage under-age sides, it is up to you to nominate worthy contributors.

The programme will run from November 2013 to May 2014 with a reward scheme consisting of individual “Volunteer of the Month” awards.

The Volunteer Recognition 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 email damonurlich@munsterrugby.ie