Congratulations to Cormac Smith for winning the prestigious IRFU Spirit of Rugby volunteer award for 2022/2023! This well-deserved honour reflects his extraordinary dedication and impact as a coach within the Portarlington RFC and Portdara Rugby community.

Cormac’s journey as a coach began with the Portarlington U12s in 2015, where he laid a strong foundation for young players. His commitment saw him guide this team for three consecutive seasons, nurturing their skills and fostering a love for the game. He then advanced to coaching the Portarlington U15s, where his leadership continued to shine.

With the formation of Port Dara, Cormac took on new challenges, coaching the U14s, U16s, and eventually the U18s, while also coaching the North Midlands U16 team in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 season, including a number of future Leinster and Ireland stars. His role expanded as he became an important figure in the Port Dara Falcons, bringing his experience and enthusiasm to help develop women’s senior rugby.

In addition to his club coaching, Cormac has also made significant contributions to school rugby from 2019 to 2023, playing a key role in the sport's growth at the grassroots level.

Cormac Smith's dedication, hard work as a volunteer, and excellent guidance have made a lasting impact on Portarlington RFC and Portdara Rugby. His recognition with the IRFU Spirit of Rugby award is a testament to his profound impact on players and the community.

Well done, Cormac!