Exiles Fundraising Lunch A Success

The Irish Exiles’ inaugural lunch, held on the eve of the England v Ireland game, exceeded the expectations of the Irish Exiles Committee. The lunch, organised by Ces Shaw and Feidlim MacLoughlin, was held in the Institute of Directors in Pall Mall in London.

Some 200 guests sat down with such rugby legends as Willie Duggan and Ray MacLoughlin. In attendance were 10 British Lions and 14 international players in all.

Ireland back row players such as Fergus Slattery and Stewart McKinney were joined by a more recent vintage in the form of Simon Easterby and Denis Leamy.

Founder of the Exiles, Tom Kiernan, the former captain of Ireland and the British & Irish Lions, attended the lunch.

The lunch was supported by business people, parents of Exile players and rugby people. It was also supported by Exiles who could not attend, such as Dr. Gary O’Driscoll.

Gary, who came through the Exiles system, was the Ireland team doctor, went on two Lions tours and is now the Arsenal team doctor. He donated a signed Lions shirt, a signed Arsenal shirt and two tickets to an Arsenal game for the auction.

IRFU President John Callaghan opened the lunch. During the lunch Paul Wallace (Ireland) and Jeremy Guscott (England) took part in a light-hearted preview of Saturday’s big RBS 6 Nations game. 

This session was under the direction of Scott Hastings from Scotland. All three contributed to an entertaining session which was greatly enjoyed by the guests.

‘A lost afternoon with the Irish Exiles’ would now appear to be an event in the sporting social calendar – be you an Irishman, Englishman, Scotsman or Welshman.

All the nationalities were in attendance and united in their love of rugby at the Exiles lunch.

For more information on the Irish Exiles – click here.