History: 1961 – 1990
1961-62 Committee Dinner started
1963-64 Marcus Ruddle, President Association of Referees. Social Club started. Bar installed and pavilion extended
1964-65 Norman McConnell, President Leinster Branch and Austin Carry, President Association of Referees
1965-66 Thursday Club nights started
1967-68 New style jersey adopted. First tour to Bath and Stroud. Further bar extension
1968-69 1st XV reached Final of Collegians Festival (Deramore Shield). 2nd XV reached final Junior League, lost to U.C.D. 1st XV travelled (to Kelso) by air for the first time
1969-70 Irish Cap for Eric Campbell. Start of over 60’s Dinner
1971-72 Further pavilion extension, opening match v An International XV, 15th September 1972. 1st Newsletter dated 10th April 1972
1972-73 Brewery Road ground sold. Using High School, Bath Avenue and Wesley College for Junior Games
1973-74 Cornish tour (September 1973). 3rd C XV reached final O’Connor Cup and lost to Terenure
1974-75 I.R.F.U. Centenary year. 1st XV won Blackrock Festival (Castle Trophy). Alan Doherty won Irish Cap. 1st XV in Senior Cup Final lost to St Mary’s in a replay. Kilgobbin purchased in conjunction with Lansdowne FC
1975-76 September trip to Orrel (Lancashire). 1st Irish Cap for Phil Orr. 3rd A XV in League Final, lost to Terenure. 3rd B XV won Winters Cup beating Seapoint, 3rd D won Fox Cup beating Maynooth and 3rd F won Guilfoyle cup beating Seapoint. Junior Tour to Holland
1976-77 3rd A XV reached Moran Cup Final, lost to Lansdowne. Phil Orr played in Lions Test v New Zealand
1977-78 2nd XV reached Metropolitan Cup Final and lost to St Mary’s in a replay. 3rd XV won Albert O’Connell Cup beating St. Mary’s. Club tour to California May 1978
1978-79 Ian Cairnduff, President Leinster Branch. Tour to Holland (Juniors) September 1979
1979-80 3rd A XV reached Final of League, lost to Old Belvedere. 3rd B XV also reached League Final and lost to Old Belvedere. Mick Jackman, Irish ‘B’ Cap
1980-81 1st XV won Greystones 7-a-side. Development Committee appointed re Clubhouse development at Donnybrook. Front Row clinic for schools, etc. Past Presidents and Past Captains luncheon started. 2nd XV reached final of Metropolitan Cup and lost to Lansdowne. Phil Orr and George Wallace on Irish Tour to South Africa
1981-82 Work started on new Dressing Rooms and Bar at Donnybrook.
1982-83 Under 19 XV reached final of McCorry Cup and lost to U.C.D., 3rd won Minor League. George Wallace wins Irish ‘B’ Cap and Phil Orr makes it 39 successive Irish caps.
1983-84 New Clubhouse opened. Visit of London Welsh. Phil Orr makes new record for Irish Prop of 43 Caps (Consecutive). 3E XV reach Greenlea Cup Final and lose to Blackrock.
1984-85 1st XV won Leinster Cup and beat Wanderers. Phil Orr makes new record of 48 Irish Caps (Consecutive). 3D XV reach final Tom Fox Cup and lose to Belvedere.
1985-86 Phil Orr equals world record of 50 international caps for a prop forward. 3rd F XV lost final of Guilfoyle Cup to Seapoint.
1986-87 Phil Orr selected for World Cup Squad, wins record number of caps for a prop, 58 internationals caps.
1987-88 Phil Orr announces retirement from representative rugby. 1st XV win Smithwicks Old Belvedere Floodlit Cup beating Terenure 12-7 in Final, losing All-Ireland Smithwicks Floodlit Trophy to Bangor 9-6 after extra time. J8 won Guilfoyle Cup beating Terenure in Final.
1988-89 4 players on Leinster side v South-West in Bath. 1st XV won Blackrock Festival (Castle Trophy), retained Smithwicks Leinster Floodlit Trophy (v Lansdowne 9-6) and won All-Ireland Smithwicks Floodlit Trophy (v Bangor 15-6). 3rd XV undefeated throughout season winning O’Connell Cup and Minor League. 3rd C XV won O’Connor Cup. Chris Pim capped for Ireland Under 25s.
1989-90 5 Players represent Leinster (4 verses All Blacks). 1st XV beaten in Final of Smithwicks Floodlit Trophy. Dave Bursey capped for Ireland Under 21s on tour of Italy. 2nd XV complete Double – Metropolitan Cup and J1 League and also won President’s Plaque. 3rd XV retain Minor League. 3rd A’s, D’s and E’s beaten in Final of respective cup competitions.