In the first of what we intend will become a regular feature on the website, Eamon Considine reminisces with people who have had a long association with, and involvement in, the Club.

First up in the interviewee's chair is Dan Magan.

"Rugby for me started in 1978 at about 13 years of age, at Longford Rugby Club. I joined an underage team who had been playing together for four years and had some characters on it, even at that age. Brian Lyons, Johnny Killane, Paudjo Kane, Eamonn Considine were all established members of the team. I was on the U13 team who played the first match at the opening of the Clubhouse in September 1979. Looking back, I may have been a little old to be part of that team but due to my young looks I got away with it.

I continued playing underage up to the U19’s and then graduated to the dizzy heights of Longford thirds. There were great characters like James Connolly and Norman Goode to guide me along and break me into the team. Longford Rugby Club was not only a sports club for me but it was the place to be on a Saturday night, for the disco with DJ Gerry Conboy. It was on one of those Saturday nights that I first set eyes on my future wife, Louise. She had been visiting a friend in Longford and had the great fortune of being brought to the Club that night and meeting me.

Over the years I helped coach underage teams along with Matt Hanley and Micheál Duggan. I realised the commitment our coaches like Derick Turner and Denis Madigan gave to us, with giving up week nights and weekends travelling the Midlands playing games. Longford Rugby Club for me is one of the most progressive clubs around in any sport, with all the facilities, pitches, and the wonderful people who are involved in the running of it."

Dan, of course, is a member of an extended family who have had, and continue to have, various roles in and about the Club. Our thanks to Eamon who conducted the interview and to Dan for having shared his memories.