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250 People Turned Up For A Meeting To Organise Anthony Foley's Funeral

250 People Turned Up For A Meeting To Organise Anthony Foley's Funeral
PJ Browne
By PJ Browne
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RTÉ's radio coverage of an overwhelming day at Thomond Park beautifully reflected the emotional torrent felt by everyone in attendance.

Their pre-match coverage began with Des Cahill speaking to Donal Lenihan, a man steeped in Munster rugby.

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Just a day prior, Anthony Foley had been laid to rest in Killaloe. Thousands turned up to pay their respects to a man taken too soon from his family and his sport.

Lenihan told of how Keith Wood, on the day following Foley's passing, called a meeting in the town. 250 people turned up - a mark of the respect in which the Munster head coach was held.

It's incredible the reaction I've had over the last few days. I think it was because I was in Paris, outside the stadium when news broke of Anthony's passing... The emotions when the Munster fans gathered outside the gate at the Racing stadium and sang the Fields Of Athenry, followed by There Is An Isle. I think that set the template for the grief and outpouring of sorrow that has followed for the following six days.

It culminated in an incredible two days in Killaloe. I know Keith Wood - who has been unbelievable - a childhood friend of Anthony Foley, he was the one who coordinated the event in Killaloe. He called a meeting on Monday evening. 250 of the locals turned up. Everybody wanted to be part and play their role in making sure that Anthony was properly represented - which he was.

It was an incredible send-off in Killaloe. Even the likes of John Langford - who would have been in the second row in the early part of Munster's journey - came back from Sydney to be there. Alan Gaffney, a former Munster coach and Leinster coach as well, he flew from Sydney.

That's the level of feeling that was there towards Anthony. It was incredible seeing all these people reunited - a lot of them for the first time in nearly eight years.

You can listen to Donal Lenihan speaking on Radio 1 below.

Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Listen: RTE Radio Wonderfully Captured The Emotional Hurricane At The End Of Munster-Glasgow

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