Sir, – Together with two friends I attended the game on Sunday between Blackrock College and Clongowes, which turned out to be a thriller, played in exemplary spirit. It made a fine conclusion to a rugby weekend. On the field, that is.
Seated in the sparsely populated north stand, there was a mix of rugby people, some neutral fans, including many families with children.
Some 10 rows behind was a large group of young men, all attired in Blackrock jerseys and colours, who offered loud, occasionally aggressive, vocal support. This included a chant of few words, “**** off Clongowes, “**** off Clongowes”, not an imaginative lyric, just highly objectionable.
They appeared to be recent graduates rather than current pupils and so outside the direct sphere of any influence from their alma mater. However, it made me wonder how they came to acquire these “values”.
What school did I go to? Blackrock College. Proud of that fact? Let me get back to you on that. – Yours, etc,
PETER CULLY,
The Alders,
Monkstown Valley,
Co Dublin.