This was the first Connacht Rugby Team not to lose to Leinster. They are, back row Miko Gallagher, President of Corinthians; J.B. Donohue, Loughrea; Donncha O'Malley, Limerick/U.C.G.; Paddy Horan; Terry Lenihan U.C.G; Donal Ryan, Gurtymadden; Amby Roche.

Middle Row - Sean Gill, U.C.G; Gerry Mahony, (Landsdowne) originally from Galway, Cyril Mahony, Captain; Josie Owens; Frank Flattery, Forster St; Connie Finan.

In front are Bill Callanan, Loughrea and Ronnie Grealish.

The game was played in Kilkenny November 1940 and was a draw with Kevin Flanagan and Austin Carrie scoring for Leinster and Donncha O Malley and Sean Gill for Connacht.

When Cyril Mahony was making his after dinner speech, he as so excited that, while he regretted Leinster not winning, he was delighted that Connacht won. Austin Carrie, who was sitting beside him, nudged him, and said, "it was a draw, sir, but a moral victory".

Connacht Rugby may seem to have another moral victory this week with the decision of the IRFU to postpone their decision to scrap Connacht rugby. But that is all they have done, postpone.

The idea of eliminating an entire province from the game is discriminatory, petty, arrogant and mean spirited. It flies in the face of all sporting spirit. It is like three schoolboys saying to the fourth - "you can't play in our game because we own the ball"

The rugby union has done more to galvanise opinion in the past weeks that they realise. They have generated a lot of heat on the street, and sickened most fair-minded people, whether they are interested in rugby or not. The dignified protests are gathering momentum, and let us hope, for the sake of the game, that they will be successful.

No self respecting organisation can simply disenfranchise loyal supporters as epitomised by Amby Roche, who has devoted much of his long life to the game as a player, an administrator and a regular attendee at games.

He celebrated his ninetieth birthday last weekend, so happy birthday Amby, "Go maire tú an chéad", and long may you watch Connacht rugby do us proud.

We have had a request from Tom McDonald of 40 Monbrief Walk, Lurgan, Co. Armagh relating to a McDonald's shoe repair/cobblers shop in Galway. Can anyone tell us where it was?

Fun Genealogical Quiz (conducted by Paul O'Donnell) and A.G.M. at Menlo Park Hotel,Headford Road, Galway on Wednesday, 29th January at 8.00p.m. New members will be welcome. Contact:Nuala Nolan(091-565385)