Nenagh Ormond Rekindle Italian Connection
Report by Tony Wells
In March 2007, a touring party of 47 children and parents from Nenagh Ormond RFC travelled to the Italian city of Vicenza for an end of season tour. This began a series of trips back and forth between members of Vicenza Rangers RFC and Nenagh Ormond RFC. In 2008, a touring party of 120 from Vicenza had a very enjoyable time in Nenagh, while 97 children and parents from Nenagh Ormond returned to Vicenza in 2009. Another group of 120 members from Vicenza visited Nenagh in 2010. The children in these groups were aged between 8 and 12 years old.
The connection seemed to lose some momentum as the children grew up, so it was a bold move to recreate this connection in 2016 when 22 members of Nenagh Ormond RFC, comprising of 17 players and 5 parents returned to Vicenza between 31st March and 3rd April this year. Many of the players, now aged 17 and 18, were part of the original under 8’s and under 10’s who made the original trips in 2007 and 2009.
The touring party left for Dublin Airport on Thursday 31st March catching a Ryanair flight to Treviso and travelled by bus to Vicenza, approximately 90 minutes away, where the group stayed at the Ostello Olympico. The group spent the first night getting to know their surroundings before a busy weekend ahead.
Vicenza was the home of Andrea Palladio, one of the most influential architects in Western architecture. His architectural works have been valued for centuries as the quintessence of High Renaissance.
On Friday 1st April, the group travelled by train to Venice and were given a walking tour of the famous city by Maria-Donata Tomba, with her husband Mirco and son Jaccamo, residents of Vicenza, who had visited Nenagh on the two previous visits. Highlight of the day was the group trip on the famous gondolas in Venice. On their return to Vicenza, the players prepared for a highly competitive training match against Vicenza Rangers Under 18’s in very warm conditions of 25o C. The hard ground caused many players to complaint of blisters on their feet, being used to the very soft conditions caused by last winter’s rain at home. Vicenza Rangers held a reception for Nenagh Ormond after the match, including dinner. The tour organisers Liam Young and Tony Wells presented Vicenza Rangers with Nenagh Ormond Training Tops, club ties and souvenir books of Nenagh which had been kindly donated by Nenagh Municipal Council. The officials of Nenagh Ormond RFC formally invited Vicenza Rangers to return to Ireland in the near future and it is hoped that they will take up the offer.
On Saturday morning the group did some shopping in the ancient city of Vicenza, and undertook a tour of the ancient city, again facilitated by Maria-Donata Tomba and her family. At lunchtime on Saturday the group travelled 100km north to the Dolomite region of the Alps to play a match against Feltre RFC. Feltre is an ancient town, founded by the Romans in 49BC, and was the site of the meeting between Hitler and Mussolini to cement the Axis alliance in 1943. Rugby Feltre is situated in the Alps and provided some breathtaking scenery for players and officials. It felt strange for the players to play in 25o C heat, yet be surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The Nenagh team were given a guard of honour from Rugby Feltre mini-rugby players entering the pitch, and the National anthems of Ireland and Italy were played before the match. In a highly competitive and entertaining match, watched by a large crowd, Feltre just about won out, beating the exhausted Nenagh lads 17-15.
Rugby Feltre put on a similar reception for Nenagh RFC as had been afforded by Vicenza Rangers the night before. Again tour organisers Liam Young and Tony Wells presented Rugby Feltre with Nenagh Ormond Training Tops, club ties and souvenir books of Nenagh which had been kindly donated by Nenagh Municipal Council. Again an invitation was made to Rugby Feltre to visit Nenagh at some stage in the very near future, and it is believed that arrangements may be put in place to fulfil this invitation.
On Sunday morning, more time was allowed for the group to visit the city of Vicenza and undertake some last minute shopping, before the tired Nenagh lads returned home from Treviso Airport on Sunday evening.
Trips of this nature cannot go ahead without valuable contacts in the destination city. Nenagh Ormond RFC has a great servant in David Lind, a native of Nenagh, brother of Chris Lind, Brookwatson, Nenagh, former Nenagh player. David, who is now resident in Vicenza, is a grandson of Kevin Bernal, captain of Nenagh Ormond RFC in the 1930’s. David Lind has been of great help to Nenagh Ormond RFC in each of their three trips to Vicenza in recent years. He has arranged all accommodation, transport and matches for all Nenagh teams who have visited Vicenza and it would be safe to say that this trip could not have gone ahead without his assistance. Special mention must also be made of Maria-Donata Tomba and her family, who gave up their entire weekend to accompany the Nenagh touring party, to act as an interpreter and tour guide to the party. Her help was gratefully appreciated.
The following were the touring party who travelled:
Parents: Liam Young, Tony Wells, Colm O’Hanlúin, John Ryan and Eric Moloney
Players: Mervyn Hayes (captain), Tommy Wells, Seamus O’Meara, Tom McGrath, Cathal Ryan, Peter Ryan, Patrick Ryan, Aaron White, Jack Moloney, Martin Rainsford, Brian Doughan, Brian Connaughton, Luke Fahey, Alex Moesei, Padraig Corcoran, Harry Young, Cianan O’Hanlúin.
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