New Faces @ Donegal Community Rugby Project

The Donegal Community Rugby Project and the Irish Rugby Football Union (Ulster Branch) would like to announce staffing arrangements for the forthcoming season.

Darren McGuigan has been appointed as the Senior Community Rugby Officer for West Ulster, an area which will see him support the continued development of eleven rugby clubs on both sides of the border. Darren’s remit also includes managing/supporting the Donegal Community Rugby Project and ensuring its continued success as it moves into its next three year phase.

Darren McGuigan

Darren has taken over from Jonathan Llewhellin, the previous Donegal Community Rugby Project Leader, who has now moved on from Donegal to pursue a career in rugby development in Wales. The Committee of the project would like to thank Jonathan for his efforts over the last three years and recognises the excellent contribution that he has made to developing rugby within County Donegal.

The Donegal Community Rugby Project will be supported by two Community Rugby Officers who have been appointed to deliver participation programmes on behalf of the local clubs within County Donegal. These officers are employed from June 2010 through until April 2011 and will work on a North and South County basis to support their allocated clubs.

Graeme Eastwood

Graeme Eastwood will cover North Donegal and work closely with Inishowen RFC, Letterkenny RFC and Tir Chonaill RFC and Chris Slevin will cover South Donegal working with Ballyshannon RFC, Donegal Town RFC and Finn Valley RFC.

Chris Slevin

The Donegal Community Rugby Project is a partnership between the Irish Rugby Football Union, IRFU (Ulster Branch) and the six rugby clubs within County Donegal all of which contribute financially to the employment of the two Community Rugby Officers.

The appointment of the two Community Rugby Officers from June until the end of September has been supported by the PEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Donegal County Council.