*Ennis RFC.
ENNIS RFC make history today (Saturday) when they become the first Clare team to line out in the All-Ireland League.
Their promotion marks a historic moment for the county but it also brings major challenges off the field, as Ennis RFC works to meet AIL standards and secure the funding needed to sustain the growth of the club.
The Ennis Ladies secured promotion last March after defeating Enniskillen in the AIL qualifiers. With that win, Ennis ladies became the first club in Clare to reach the competition.
As soon as the victory was confirmed, the club started preparing for the teams AIL debut. “Last March, when we knew we’d won Division One and were in the All-Ireland round robins, once we got into that, planning started,” explains Brian Farrell, Vice Chairman of Ennis RFC. “We knew the club would have to give the girls extra support. They are moving up a level, playing against Irish internationals and inter-provincial players”.
The jump to AIL rugby meant Ennis RFC needed not only to strengthen the team’s resources, but also to upgrade facilities to meet competition requirements.
Since March, the club has worked on a wide range of projects. One of the first priorities was catering. AIL rules require clubs to provide substantial hot meals for visiting squads. The club will contract a catering company to handle the cooking, but it has already upgraded its kitchen and dining facilities to cater for larger numbers. Most of this work was completed over the summer.
Brian told The Clare Echo, “We had to invest in the clubhouse to be able to cater for that,” Farrell says. “We brought in an outside company for cooking, but we upgraded our kitchen, dining space, and seating so we can serve proper meals to 50–80 players and staff”.
The club has also advanced existing development plans. Major changes are planned to the dressing rooms, which currently cannot accommodate men’s and women’s teams at the same time. The new layout will expand from four to six dressing rooms, each with its own showers and toilets, ensuring privacy and flexibility.
Work has also been carried out on the main pitch, which is heavily used by the club’s 17–18 teams. Farrell says this remains a major challenge. “Most AIL clubs would have a dedicated number one pitch and two or three training pitches. We don’t have that luxury. We’re fielding nearly 18 teams off one pitch. It’s a big juggle”.
To address this, Ennis RFC is exploring the installation of a 4G pitch to increase training capacity and ensure consistency. Parking facilities are also under review, with plans to partner with nearby venues to ease congestion during peak times.
Alongside the physical upgrades, the club has invested in supporting the players through the transition. The senior women’s team now has additional coaches, a structured strength and conditioning programme in partnership with ‘Morey Movement’ a Sixmilebridge-based company, and physios for matchdays and recovery.
“Strength and conditioning was a big concern for us to try and limit injuries,” Farrell notes. “They’ve been at it all summer, and they’ll need to continue throughout the season”. The side have been working with Sixmilebridge based Morey Movement for their S&C preparation.
While these developments have been vital, they have also created significant financial pressure for Ennis RFC. Farrell admits that the promotion came earlier than expected, “The girls getting promoted, while brilliant, probably came a year or two early. We’ve had to split our focus this year between making sure the ladies are ready for AIL and financing the continual development of the club”.
Fundraising efforts are now stretched across three fronts: supporting the women’s team in the AIL, maintaining ongoing youth and senior rugby programmes, and delivering long-term infrastructure projects. “The finances for any club are tough, it’s a constant uphill battle,” Farrell says. “Prices are going up, companies are under pressure. It’s not easy”.
To bridge the gap, Ennis RFC is seeking new sponsors. The club is currently looking for a main title sponsor for the women’s senior team, as well as two or three secondary sponsors for jerseys.
In addition, the club has launched a development package aimed at 100 local businesses or individuals. Each would contribute €5,000, either once-off or spread over five years, with the funds dedicated solely to facilities and infrastructure.
“We have been very lucky with our current sponsors; Enda Galvin from Galvin Construction, Specsavers in Ennis, and Midwest Lock Smiths have been hugely supportive,” Farrell says. “But we have a large body of work to fundraise for, and any help or support, financial or otherwise, from the wider community would be hugely appreciated”. Anyone interested in supporting Ennis RFC and the Senior Ladies team in their AIL debut can contact Brian Farrell directly at vicechair@ennisrfc.ie.
While the financial and logistical challenges are substantial, Farrell says the promotion has already delivered lasting benefits. Female participation in the club has grown steadily, with more girls joining at underage level and, for the first time, full teams being fielded at U10 and U12. “We’re now able to offer a complete pathway for female players, from minis right up to senior rugby,” he says. “That wasn’t possible before”.
Speaking about the Senior ladies team and the positive influence they have had on the club Farrell says; “There’s a great core of girls in that group. They’re a model for sportswomen in fairness. A lot of support has come into that group from the wider community”.
