Michael Swift Honoured by Galway Bay FM

Connacht second-row Michael Swift will tonight be honoured by Galway Bay FM at their annual sports awards in the Radisson Hotel. Swift will join a long list of players including Connacht coach Eric Elwood and captain John Muldoon in receiving the sports award for rugby. Currently in his eleventh season for Connacht, Swift is a worthy recipient of the award. He has been a corner stone of the Connacht team in recent times and starred in Connacht’s run to the Amlin Challenge Cup Semi Final last season. His try against Leinster in the Magners league last year will live long in the memory as one of the best trys ever scored in the Sportsground. Swift has also overtaken former captain Andrew Farley as the most capped Connacht player of all time and he shows no sign of slowing down just yet.

Pictures (C) www.inpho.ie

Connacht Rugby are delighted to announce that i102-104 is its’ official radio station partner.

Under the deal, listeners to i102-104 can hear interviews with Connacht rugby players and coaches ahead of each game, win tickets to see their favourite team at The Sportsgrounds and meet the station’s iTeam at each home game.
The partnership between Connacht Rugby and i102-104 will see greater promotion of the Connacht team across seven counties in the West and Northwest where i102-104 broadcasts to, namely Mayo, Galway, Donegal, Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford and Sligo. Connacht rugby fans will also get exclusive VIP tickets to selected home games in association with i102-104.
Speaking about the announcement, Chief Executive of i102-104 Rena Maycock said: “There's a natural fit between Connacht Rugby and i102-104 in that both organisations are fighting fit and going from strength to strength - surprising the competition and making a firm stamp on our respective industries.” She added: “We are delighted to be expanding our relationship with Connacht Rugby and now we've made a firm commitment to actively support each other. Being the official radio station for the West's rugby giants is a great honour for us, one which we take seriously. I have no doubt that this partnership will help to grow support both for i102-104 and for Connacht Rugby and we all wish Eric and John the very best of luck in their forthcoming battles at home and abroad.”
Chief Executive of Connacht Rugby Gerry Kelly said he was delighted to announce the partnership; “Having i102-104 as our official radio station significantly promotes Connacht Rugby to a much bigger audience in the West and Northwest outside of just Galway. There are so many fans of the team in counties such as Sligo, Donegal and Longford, for example, and now they can follow Connacht Rugby on i102-104.”
Fiona Keys, Commercial Manager with Connacht Rugby said the partnership was the right fit for the Galway based team; “Connacht Rugby and i102-104 are such strong brands that together they work well and of course this partnership will help promote the team further to make us the biggest in Ireland.”

Photo: Peter Ganley, Mary McGill and Fergal D'Arcy of i102-104 with Connacht Rugby Players announcing the partnership between i102-104 and Connacht Rugby players Frank Murphy, Troy Nathan, Ronan Loughney, Ian Keatley and MikeMcCarthy

Connacht’s Head Coach Eric Elwood was bestowed with the Paul Harris Fellow at an awards ceremony on Monday evening at the Ardilaun Hotel in Galway.
Salthill Rotary President Gerry Purcel introduced the evening with a presentation on the different roles Rotary plays across the world and explained the origins of the Paul Harris Fellow. Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary in 1905 with a simple view that was to become Rotary’s mission statement, “Service above Self” and the Fellow award that bears his name is awarded to individuals who have served their communities and countries with distinction. Gerry Purcel went on to say that Eric was “the perfect candidate” to receive this prestigious award and that Eric’s nomination had fulfilled the 4 central tenants that govern Rotary decisions: is it the truth? is it fair to all concerned? will it build good will and better friendships? and will it be beneficial to all concerned? He also noted that this was only the second time in the Salthill Rotary Club history that the award, which is recognized across the world, had been conferred onto a non-rotary individual.

Former Connacht Player, Selector and Galwegian Paddy Reilly also spoke and recounted tales of Eric’s upbringing in Mervue, playing for Galwegians RFC and his time in Lansdowne RFC before Eric himself said a few words.
“I’m just an ordinary Joe Soap from Mervue who played a bit of rugby and now does a bit of coaching and I am very humbled to accept this award. It was always my ambition to play for Galwegians, Connacht and Ireland and they are some of my proudest moments, getting those caps. I would like to pay tribute to (former Head Coach) Michael Bradley for the opportunity to be assistant coach, to Gerry Kelly and the Connacht Branch for believing in me and special thanks to my management team and players who are committed and dedicated and show huge character through the highs and lows of professional sport.”

The presentation concluded with a short speech from immediate past District Governor Tom Murphy who added to Eric’s piece by stating that “we are all just ordinary Joe Soaps”, that each of Rotary’s 1.2 million members are just regular people doing a bit extra for the greater good. He added that the Paul Harris Fellow was the highest accolade Rotary can bestow on a person and that it is the same award that has been awarded to Presidents, Royalty and world leaders alike and is recognized in each and every one of Rotary’s 32,000+ branches worldwide.

Mike Guilfoyle, Benny O'Connor, Eric Elwood and Salthill Rotary President Gerry Purcel

Former Connacht players, selector and Galwegian Paddy Reilly

Salthill Rotary President Gerry Purcel

CONNACHT STEP INTO UNKNOW – IN MATCH 93

Eric Elwood – Connacht Rugby’s record points scorer – faces his first Amlin Challenge Cup contest as the province’s new coach accepting they know precious little about their Round 1 opponents. Italian club I Cavalieri Estra will be making their European debut when they welcome Connacht Rugby – who will be playing a record 93rdtournament match – to Stadio Lungobisenzio on Saturday.
“We sent a guy over to Italy the weekend before last when they were playing Lazio in the Super 10 and video of that one game is what we will be working off in preparation for Saturday,” said former Ireland outside half Elwood, who scored 473 points in 53 Amlin Challenge Cup appearances for Connacht Rugby.
“That was the best we could do so we have to take our chances from that one game and then hope there are not too many changes in their team.
“However, what it has told us is that they have a couple of big, good ball carriers, big centres and a solid goal kicker.
“We will have to keep our discipline, not give away any silly penalties and easy points and, if we play to our full capabilities, we should be okay.
“But because it is their first game in Europe they will want to put on a good performance in front of their own fans and we expect them, like all Italian teams, to be very competitive
“I am not at all worried that we start away from home but with just the Pool winner going through into the quarter-finals we know we must get off to a winning start.”
Connacht Rugby have been the only ever-present team in the history of the tournament, reaching the knock-out stages seven times in 14 attempts, and if they can qualify for the semi-finals for the fourth time they will be the first team to play in 100 matches in the competition.
“It is really exciting to be going into another European campaign but we know we are in a tough group,” said Elwood.
“We have not played Bayonne before either but they were riding high in the Top 14 while I know Harlequins and John (Kingston) very well so there is a bit of history there.
“We know how tough the French teams are but we have never feared going to France and, after five Celtic League matches in a tournament that is very competitive and physically demanding, that is a great way to prepare for Europe.
“We hope to have our skipper John Muldoon back for his first game since breaking an arm on the Irish tour and we are very happy with how Ian Keatley is coming on – he is a work in progress but he is developing really well and working extremely hard on his game.
“We go into the Amlin Challenge Cup after losing 22-6 away to Cardiff Blues but were disappointed we did not get anything out of that match. We created a few opportunities but did not take them, and away from home in particular that is not acceptable.”
ENDS