Club Notes | Olan Allen Receives Boots Award For Volunteerism In Rugby

There was a great night of celebration in Sunday’s Well RFC on the night of Friday 23rd May as the role of the Volunteer within Irish Junior rugby was recognised.

One volunteer in particular was being honoured; Olan Allen – who has given decades of unbroken service to his club the ‘Well, the local junior rugby scene in Ireland – as well as making contributions further afield.

Mr Allen had the great distinction of being this year’s recipient of the ‘Boots’ award, with the presentation of the award made by Chairman of the IRFU Boots Committee; Padraic McGann. McGann is a man who hails from a proud Cork sporting family himself. Padraic was previously honoured with the ‘Boots’ award for his diligent work in Monivea RFC and Connacht Rugby. He presented Olan Allen with both a plaque that had a silver inscribed replica of Willie John McBride’s boots as well as a green “Boots” blazer.

The IRFU Boots award has been running for 43 years. It is in honour of Irish rugby legend Willie John McBride. The most famous of all British and Irish Lions captains; McBride was a man who always played for the love of the game with his final game coming in a Junior match against Arklow RFC in 1980. Rather than hanging up his powers; the powerful second-row offered the opposing club his boots from that final game in 1980 as a memento of the occasion.

In honour of McBride’s contribution to Irish and Junior rugby; – “The Boots” was established shortly in his honour. To reward the efforts of people who rendered long and outstanding service to Junior Rugby in Ireland.

Olan follows in the steps of six Munster representatives including the legendary Dick Smyth from Thomond RFC, who was the first recipient of the award in 1981. Dan McGrath worked tirelessly for ruby in Dungaravan and across Waterford and was honoured in 1990, while the great stalwart from Thurles; Bobby O’Brien earned the award in 1999. Former Munster Branch president and proud Bandon man Niall O’Driscoll got recognised in 2002, before John O’Brien was bestowed with the honour in 2007.

The last Munster recipient; John Hanly of Kilfeacle & District; was rewarded in 2018 and currently serves as a Committee Member for the Boots Award. Hanly was keen to express his appreciation having known and worked with Olan for forty years and gave a great testament of Olan’s many years of service and talents.

Hanly started by saying that he “always found Olan to be a thorough gentleman, very efficient at his job and every role he held in Munster rugby. He looked after the clubs and fixtures for the AIL and others were unable to do without his assistance. He did it in a very professional way and kept to himself without seeking any accolades.

“Ring Olan at any time, and he would give you an answer. He may give you a time when he would respond, and Olan would come back with a very shrewd and solid based answer. I always found him to be number one for Junior rugby in this province (Munster). Olan is the heart and soul of Munster rugby, and I hope he stays in that job for many years to come because nobody can replace him”.

There were other speeches from members of Sunday’s Well. Unfortunately, one of Olan’s closest club friends Frank Byford was unable to attend but he gave a succinct and heartfelt tribute. In a pre-recorded video, Byford said that he “couldn’t think of anyone more deserving for this honour, for his service to rugby football both on and off the field.”

Chairman of Sunday’s Well Dave Egar noted that in his two years since taking on the role, he was not expecting their paths to cross much as Egar thought Olan was just working with Fixtures. Egar noted though “that everyone I speak to in the (Munster) Branch; no matter what the topic; there was always a lengthy conversation and after a pause the individual would always say ‘and I’ll just check with Olan.’ It just goes to show the depth of knowledge that he has and how well regarded he is.”

Olan Allen opening acknowledgements were to his family, specifically his wife Mary; with whom he celebrated his golden anniversary the previous year. She has managed to “put up” with his constant rugby matters through the years – noted Olan. He also thanked his sister Carmel Cummings and brother-in-law Anthony Roche, as well as his sons Leonard and Eolan. He also acknowledged his daughter Natalie; who sadly passed away far too young.

Olan also built on the theme of the importance of volunteerism in rugby, as he stressed his feeling that there were many more people involved in Munster Junior rugby who devoted immense time and effort across the province. Within the club, several volunteers were acknowledged; that Mr Allen noted were pivotal in his development within all facets of rugby. Among those noted; the two who stood out were Dave Dineen and Billy Keating.

Dineen was like a mentor to Olan. A shy unassuming and humble man; Dineen became a very close fired inside and outside of rugby. His passion and love for both Sunday’s Well and the sport shone through and despite his usually quiet demeanour, he was a major personality within rugby circles.

Billy Keating was a classmate of Olan’s in PBC. Keating, despite his small stature was a larger-than-life personality. They worked together closely on the administration side; both within the club and the branch. Frank Byford noted how they both were pivotal in securing Frank’s role as Honorary Secretary of the Munster Branch in 2005.

Many others within the club were thanked, but a special note of appreciation was given towards Maurice O’Keeffe and his wife Rachel, who were there to represent Skibbereen RFC. A change in structure of the Branch meant that at one stage Olan; as a member of the ‘Well who were then a Senior club, was no longer able to retain the role. Skibb’ stepped up to make him an honorary life member that allowed him to resume his role.

Olan also acknowledged the recent passing of a close colleague Dr Bill Mulcahy. The great Irish second-row and captain who became a close colleague through their administrative work in the IRFU.

Rugby volunteers from all over the island were present for this celebratory occasion. After an exceptionally fine meal, supplemented; the night was rounded off with the ever vibrant and lively Cork folksinger and close friend of the Allen family; Jimmy Crowley performing an array of songs from his vast repertoire.