All Blacks the theme in north Meath

There was great excitement around the north Meath area of Ballinacree today when St Brigid's GFC welcomed members of the All Blacks rugby team to the area - and not for the first time.

The All Blacks will play Ireland on Saturday evening at the Aviva, but today rugby star Scott Barrett took time out of his busy schedule to visit St Brigid's GAA club in Ballinacree.

Joining him for today's visit were his father Kevin and brother Blake. 

Almost 20 years ago Kevin and his wife Robyn moved to Ballinacree (1999) where they were managing a dairy farm and Kevin was playing rugby with the Buccaneers in Athlone.

The Barrett children all attended school locally and played Gaelic football with St Brigid’s GAA club (Ballinacree) and they also played at St Fiach’s National School.

Today, amidst great excitement, there was time for photographs and autographs and some St Brigid's jerseys were handed out also - Scott received his from fromer classmate Ryan Tighe. 

 

The family moved back to New Zealand and, not surprisingly, the sport the brothers concentrated on was rugby.

The GAA skills of high catching and kicking stood them all in good stead on the rugby field. 

Last year another famous brother, Beauden, demonstrated that he had not forgotten his time in Ballinacree when he helped a club fundraiser.

In order to support and give back something to the St Brigid's club and the community where he enjoyed playing and made many friends he donated a signed All Black rugby jersey with autographs of the All Blacks 2015 World Rugby Champions.

PHOTOS: JUSTIN BURKE