Fr. Marnie Cunningham (23 June 1933 – 31 May 2000) was an Irish international rugby player and Catholic priest.[1] He is one of only two priests to have played international rugby for Ireland (along with Monsignor Tom Gavin).[2]
Fr. Marnie Cunningham | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 June 1933 |
| Died | 31 May 2000 (aged 66) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation(s) | Priest Rugby player |
Background edit
Cunningham was born in Cork on 23 June 1933 and educated at Presentation Brothers College in Cork City. He represented Presentation College at rugby and also represented Munster schools. He went on to study Civil Engineering at University College Cork, graduating in 1956. He also played for the UCC rugby team and won the Munster Senior Cup with them in 1955. He was a member of a distinguished rugby family as his father (Jack) played for and captained Cork Constitution.[3] His brother played for the Irish Province of Munster.[4] Cunningham also played for the Irish Universities and the Barbarians[5]
Rugby career edit
Cunningham played for the Ireland national rugby union team 7 times between 1955 and 1956.[6] He played flanker / wing forward. He won his first international cap as a 21-year-old against France in January 1955. He was capped three times in 1956 and was a member of the Ireland side that scored an 11–3 victory over Wales at Lansdowne Road in March 1956, a win that deprived Wales of a Grand Slam. He scored a famous try in this match. This was his final game for Ireland. At the age of 22 he gave up international rugby to be ordained as a Catholic priest [7]
Personal life edit
He served a priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford in England.[citation needed]
While a priest he led a protest march outside Thomond Park when Munster played against the apartheid-dominated Springboks[8][9][10]
He died in Salford on 31 May 2000, after a long illness, just before his 67th birthday.[11]
References edit
- ^ "Death of Fr Marney Cunningham". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- ^ "The Jewel in the Triple Crown". Society of African Missions. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- ^ "Cork Con FC". www.corkcon.ie. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- ^ "The Jewel in the Triple Crown". Society of African Missions. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- ^ "Death of Fr Marney Cunningham". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- ^ "Colourful players from a black and white college". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- ^ "The surprising faith of the world's toughest rugby players | CatholicHerald.co.uk". CatholicHerald.co.uk. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- ^ "Sport and drink on Good Friday". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- ^ https://www.marxists.org/history/erol/ireland/springboks.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "springbox protest" (PDF).
- ^ "Death of Fr Marney Cunningham". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 February 2018.