Welcome Message From The President
You are all very welcome as visitors to Kirwan Park, in Kilternan, the house of De La Salle Palmerston Football Club. Whether you are visiting the club as player, team backup/support or a general supporter to one of the visiting sides – senior, junior, under 21, youths or minis you can be assured that you are a valued guest of DLSP. A very special welcome to all our own Salmo supporters, players at all levels and old friends, your continued support is greatly appreciated.
As you stroll around our facilities you will see why we are very proud of what we have been able to create at Kirwan Park, in particular the significant upgrades to our grounds and premises over the past 3 years. This comprises new floodlights and significant upgrades to our 3 main pitches and side pitches, as well as refurbishing our premises with the installation of a new roof, new kitchen, toilet upgrade and surfacing/draining our car park. This was done in the teeth of a very severe economic downturn; we were however in receipt of a significant national lottery grant together with the support, both financially and with ongoing advise from the IFRU and the Leinster branch. We greatly appreciate this support and the continued support of our members and friends in funding these facility upgrade. One aspect of this work which I am delighted to be able to emphasis is that not one Euro was spent that did not have to be spent and that value for money was got for every Euro invested. The ready release of the full lotto grant, following their review and audit, is a real testimony to this fact. The team in the clubs management committee who organised, spearheaded and controlled this upgrade venture can justifiably be proud of their efforts and are deserving of our gratitude.
But, for all its worth, this is “only” improvements to property assets, the real and tangible improvement in DLSP has been on the people side; our players and members radiate a renewed quality of togetherness which is readily seen in the quality of the rugby played at Salmo and in the enthusiasm and commitment of all our coaches and managers together with the renewed ownership which all have in our club, players, coaches, managers, parents and general managers. We treasure and aim to protect and nurture this precious quality of a true club atmosphere of friendship/togetherness; our most recently developed motto captures this “our aim is to get it right first time and we value and respect all our people”
What a great year to be president of a rugby club like DLSP, with its proud history and competing well in the All Ireland league and an attractive style of rugby
- Ireland, having defeated Australia,Russia,U.S.A.and Italy were an uplifting Irish beacon in the world cup in New Zealand
- Leinster are Heineken cup champions
- Munster are Magners league winners
- All 4 provinces compete in the current years Heineken cup
The reflected upsurge in rugby popularity is shown in the numbers involved in rugby in DLSP
- 450 players and 68 coaches/managers at mini/youth level
- 30 plus players at under 21 level
- 6 senior teams with full coaching/manager infrastructure
I would like to wish all teams well this year, with a wish that all enjoy an injury free year, as well as fulfilment and success on the field. I know that the quality and commitment to training and preparation are truly inspiring with the first XL having excellent and dedicated management under Conor McCormick as Director of Rugby, David Murphy and Joe Parkes as coaches and Ken Copeland as Captain. The same dedication is evident with all senior teams and the under 21s; and also the mini/youths section are being very well looked after by their Chairman, Ciaran Daly, and all his committed and merry men and women.
One note of continuous annoyance and frustration results from the unnecessary fracturing of an otherwise seamless transition from minis to youths to U21 and then to senior player. DLSP puts a huge effort into attracting to rugby and nurturing players at a young age. Skills are learned and friendships and bonds are established. To have all this work and effort significantly destroyed by a policy where school players even fringe players, are not allowed to play/train at club level is shameful and a significant cause of up to 75% of youth players are lost to the game. The clubs have established bonds from the age of 6 to 15 years. When this is broken for the singular benefit of school rugby it is very difficult to re-establish after a 3 year gap, resulting in the player leaving school and mainly drifting away from the game. The glaring consensus of this misguided policy is that there is almost no metropolitan competition at under 15,16, or 17 level as very few clubs
are able to field teams; having trained/nurtured 30/40 players at each age group up to these years.
We in DLSP owe a huge debt to the management and other volunteers within the club. These unsung heroes keep things going and luckily in DLSP, we have an expanding body of volunteers, mainly thanks to the efforts and policy over the last few years of attraction younger personnel on board to take a part in running the club. The motto driving this initiative is “ the club belongs to us all; help run it better for all to benefit and enjoy”. Be assured that there is a welcome to any new volunteer. Also, many thanks to all sponsors and financial supporters, particularly in these very difficult times.
On a personal level, I am really looking forward to a great and enjoyable year as club president. It is a great privilege to be president of a rugby club like DLSP, with its long and proud history. My sincere thank-you to the management and members of the club for bestowing this honour on me. May I wish you all well for the year with a believe that we will have a further enjoyable and successful twelve months.
Thank you and best Wishes to you all
John J Dwyer
President