Ashbourne RFC only became home to the Ireland women's rugby team by accident. "They came to us because the girls were never treated properly," club president Pat Rooney explained of a time before the 2013 Grand Slam.
“They were waterlogged at St Mary’s and the game was transferred to us at the last minute as our pitch is practically all weather. That’s six or seven years ago.”
Pay attention or you’ll end up in Derry. When coming off the M50 (exit 5) stay left in the lane M2/N2 for approximately 9km. Take exit 3 (Ratoath/ Ashbourne) and at the roundabout take the third exit where, in fairness, a yellow signpost reads “Ashbourne Rugby Club”.
Gets tricky now. Faced with a three-ponged fork in the road, veer left, despite another yellow signpost hinting you keep straight. Put your foot to the floor. Yes, it’s a winding, dangerous road but the speed limit is 80km. Zoom past the golf club, up over the old bridge, and take your next right before climbing uphill until the bright floodlights reveal this international sporting arena.
Those arriving a minute into last Friday’s second half would have driven deeper into Meath after a “fuel filter blockage in the generator” left the 2,100 attendance in complete darkness for 50 minutes. “It was embarrassing,” admitted Rooney. “It shouldn’t have happened. It was serviced in the last 12 months but it may have got some dirty diesel into the tank. I don’t know. There has since been a full service. We are going to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Realisation
The penny appeared to have dropped last year when the IRFU finally allowed the women play Italy at the Aviva Stadium, after Brian O’Driscoll’s last Test match in Dublin. It was poorly promoted, punters were charged in, unlike the game at Twickenham – where France are playing this season with Italy at The Stoop. All told, Ireland boast the only
Six Nations
venue that’s a rugby club rather than a rugby stadium.
Despite an increasing level of interest and support off the back of last year's World Cup success, back went the IRFU to Ashbourne this season. They did consider moving and confirmed yesterday they will switch to a modern venue in 2016. The reason for this is obvious; the women's game had outgrown these facilities a good two years ago.
Arriving in Ashbourne RFC on a cold, wet Friday night in February is not unlike the Dublin GAA beat for the Evening Herald. Same friendly, good-natured vibe from volunteers for a Junior B fixture. After layering up, I bumped into Lynne Cantwell, the retired centre, who with Fiona Coghlan played a such a substantial role in guiding Ireland to last year's World Cup semi-final. Lynne was doing live radio for RTÉ as television has never taken a sustained interest. TG4 showed the World Cup but that's it. A valid excuse could be transporting an outside broadcast up to Ashbourne.
Donnybrook, and its new 4G surface, was lying idle last Friday. The RDS too. Same goes for The Sportsground or Thomond Park even if it means losing the healthy French crowd that meandered their way over the Dublin/Meath border.
All this should not overshadow the performance that followed the blackout. When Ailis Egan – the unrelenting tighthead prop - was driven over the French line a remarkable shift occurred in the game’s heretofore feeling of inevitability. Mas Reilly, Jenny Murphy, Sophie Spence, Gillian Bourke, Paul Fitzpatrick, Claire Molloy, Larissa Muldoon and Heather O’Brien all made inspirational contributions before France somehow escaped with victory.
Loyalty
New Ireland captain
Niamh Briggs
, immediately after the 10-5 defeat, felt the need to defend their spiritual home. That’s the way these women always behave; loyal to a fault. “They are extremely good to us, we get a good crowd here. I don’t mind coming here where it looks full rather than the Aviva where we are playing in a near empty stadium.”
But Donnybrook, on the eve of a Six Nations Saturday, was lying idle. The RDS too.
“That’s out of our hands,” Briggs added. “We love to play here and that’s all that matters.”
The parents in the 2,100 crowd felt otherwise. “You can’t charge people €10 to stand in the rain for an hour with their children,” said one father as he guided hooded hobbits to their car. “This is Test rugby.”
The surrounds make it feel anything but. Outdoor grill for burgers. Full bar. A handful of seats. Helpful, friendly volunteers. Good people. None of whom should be held responsible for Friday's farce. "It could happen anywhere," said coach Tom Tierney.
It could but the chances of it happening in a modern stadium are highly unlikely. And there would be more facilities and accessibility for parents to bring their daughters to see these new heroines.
Ashbourne is a welcoming place but the lack of seating and decent vantage points do not cater for children. Donnybrook is not an option on February 27th as the Ireland Under-20s return from their Athlone exile for the England game which will be televised live by RTÉ.
So, the women welcome the world champions to Ashbourne – a team full of professionals who operate like professionals and play in actual rugby stadiums. Still, an enthralling contest is promised. The floodlights should be grand. Maybe bring a torch. Just in case.
