02nd December 2006

Armagh rugby hosted a memorable occasion on Saturday last when Tommy Kennedy celebrated his 70th birthday. The event was kept a secret from Tommy and Gladys. It came as a huge surprise to them both when they were inveigled back to the club-house to face a huge crowd which had assembled.

Tommy was a prop forward for Armagh rugby for many years and he has appeared in more Ravenhill cup finals than any other post-war player.

He is the younger brother of the late George Kennedy and they both played in the same scrum for many years.

He is still a very keen supporter of Armagh rugby and indeed watched Armagh's destruction of Bangor , in the Junior Cup, quite oblivious of the plans afoot to celebrate the birthday upstairs later that evening.

Tommy has even volunteered to donate a man-of-the-match trophy for every game played by the first fifteen this season!

After the reception speeches were made by representatives from the club and Tommy's family.  Bill Davidson, a team-mate, spoke of his association with Tommy on the field as did John Kingston and John Callaghan, from the IRFU, added to the memories.

The sequence of events was rounded off with a rendition of 'The Boys From the County Armagh' before everyone had a memorable supper prepared by Tommy's family.