Willie Duggan Park Official Opening
The official opening of Willie Duggan Park 4G Rugby Facility took place last weekend, Saturday 19th September 2026, bringing together members of the Rockwell community, past pupils, supporters and invited guests to celebrate the completion of this significant development.
The day began with a Donors’ Lunch in the Senior Refectory, where those who contributed to the development were welcomed by the College and thanked for their generosity and support. Following the lunch, guests gathered at Willie Duggan Park for the official opening ceremony.
The new facility was only made possible through the tremendous hard work and commitment of Gay Mangan (class of 1959 below left) and Patrick Curran (class of 1975 below right) for their vision and fundraising efforts. They needed the help of a large number of Rockwell past pupils, who came together to support the project and help provide a first-class rugby facility for future generations of students.
Rockwell College Union was delighted to welcome members of the Duggan family, Munster Rugby Branch officials and former Munster and Ireland international Denis Leamy (class of 2000), who formally opened the new facility. Denis’s return to Rockwell provided a fitting link between generations of the College’s proud rugby tradition. A former Rockwell pupil, he went on to represent both Munster and Ireland at the highest level.
Speaking at the opening, Leamy said:
“Thanks to all for building this wonderful facility, and for giving us the opportunity to invest in rugby and to develop all that’s good about the game of rugby.”
The new 4G rugby facility represents a significant addition to sporting life at Rockwell College, providing students with a high-quality, all-weather environment for training, development and competition. It will offer generations of students greater opportunities to participate in, develop and enjoy the game of rugby.
Speaking at the opening, Rockwell College Principal Audrey O’Byrne reflected on the significance of the development for the College and its students.
Gerry Rockingham,(class of 1991) Union President, was delighted to announce the introduction of a new Union-funded Sports Scholarship for the academic year commencing September 2027.
The scholarship will have a particular focus on rugby and will provide an exciting opportunity to support and encourage talented young athletes at Rockwell College. The initiative reflects the Union’s commitment to the sporting tradition of Rugby at the College and to supporting the development of students both on and off the field. Further details on the scholarship, including eligibility and the application process, will be announced in due course. The Union is also looking forward to supporting other projects at Rockwell in the future.
The Union Wall.
The " Union Wall " celebrates the Centenary of the Rockwell College Union in 2025 - 2026 and acknowledges the generous support of the Union, Past Pupils and Parents of Students in the development of " Willie Duggan Park "
