Ireland rugby star Hugo Keenan kicks off Carrick-on-Suir Rugby Club's centenary year celebrations

Carrick-on-Suir Rugby Club is marking its 100th birthday with a series of events over the coming months and Ireland and Leinster rugby full back Hugo Keenan kicked off the centenary celebrations by visiting the club.

A Carrick RFC spokesperson said they were delighted to welcome Hugo to the club’s grounds at Tybroughney, Carrick-on-Suir on Sunday, January 22 for the official launch of the club’s programme of events for the special anniversary year. 

Hugo’s connections to the club and the Dowley family of Tybroughney are well known.  His four uncles and his grandfather all played with Carrick over the years. 

A book detailing the history of Carrick RFC will be published later in the year while a centenary dinner dance will take place in April. 

There will also be a festival day of rugby, when many of the club’s teams will play matches against various opposition. 

A players’ reunion will also be organised to coincide with the Rugby World Cup in September.

Check out more photos from Hugo Keenan's visit to Carrick-on-Suir Rugby Club in this week's edition of The Nationalist now in local shops.