Dave Gallaher - Tribute to a Legend

Dave Gallaher
Rugby Player, Soldier
1.83m 84kg

Born 1873
Ramelton, Co Donegal, Ireland

Died 1917
Passchendale, Belgium

Total All Black Matches : 36 (27 as Captain)

Position : Hooker and Wing Forward

Auckland and All Black Selector

Listen to poem

Gallaher

Through the mists of time, a figure stands tall,
An All Black legend from Donegal,
He played with power, poise and pace,
An iron man with an honest face,

Smart as a fox, he soon rose to fame,
A soldier’s instinct, in a magnificent game,
Hard as nails, strong and fast,
A superhuman with an unlikely past,

The name of Gallaher, still rings aloud,
A century on from the ‘Original’ crowd,
Dave was a hero, a leader of men,
His men would follow again and again,

A family man respected by all,
A tragic loss with an heroic fall,
A Nation inspired, history made,
An Irish Kiwi in Belgium laid,

One hundred years later, his presence still felt,
A child inspired wears a Tag Rugby belt,
His gift to Rugby is still very clear,
Ireland’s gift to New Zealand still held so dear

Jeremy Worth
October 29th 2005

The Dave Gallaher/Bob Stuart scholarship will enable elite youth players from Donegal to travel to New Zealand to train with a premier youth Rugby Academy in New Zealand
Dave Gallaher/Bob Stuart scholarship

One of the greatest rugby players of all time and a founding father of the modern game

Just how did an Irish emigrant – now forgotten in his native land – become captain of the first All Blacks side , one of the most revered rugby teams in the world?

And how did he revolutionise the way the game is played, popularising the position of wing forward and pioneering the concept of mobile forwards swarming over the pitch to support play?

The story of Dave Gallaher, the man who helped establish rugby as New Zealand’s national game and make the All Blacks the world’s top side, is a remarkable one.

This website outlines the plans of a small club in the rugby backwater of County Donegal who wish to commemorate our most famous prodigal son.

Letterkenny Rugby Club recently discovered its forgotten local hero and we are now undertaking a series of ambitious plans to commemorate his remarkable achievements.

We hope that the events we are putting in train can help us with our efforts to raise funds for our new ground, which we are calling the Dave Gallaher Memorial Park. If we are successful, we will be able to put floodlights in place on our training pitches, which will allow young people in County Donegal play rugby during our long winter nights.

Donegal, Ireland, New Zealand or anywhere in the world, it doesn’t matter. Through this website, we call on anyone who loves the game of rugby, and feels passionate that young people should get the chance to play and support the sport, to help us with our efforts.

In association with :
		Letterkenny RFC

Gallahers Home Town and Irish Roots
A Remarkable Rugby Career
The Originals - A Captains Role
Untimely Death
Honouring a Legend in New Zealand
Honouring the Legend in his Native Land
Donegal, the All Blacks and the NZRU
Dave Gallaher Memorial Park Campaign
New Artwork to honour Dave Gallaher

Newspaper Articles

GuestBook

Dave Gallaher Park

Dave Gallaher 1873 - 1917

Home Page		A Commemorative DVD Celebrating the visit of the All Blacks on the 9th November 2005

His Story

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