Latest news with #McCloskey
The Irish Sun
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Stuart McCloskey recalls Interpro memory he hopes Ireland interim boss Paul O'Connell doesn't remember
STUART McCloskey is bidding to ensure his Ireland recall amounts to more than reminding Paul O'Connell how he once got one over him. The Ulster centre has not featured in any of Ireland's last 13 Tests but will add to his 19 caps this month with Garry Ringrose and 3 The Ulster centre is in line to add to his 19 Ireland appearances against Georgia 3 McCloskey was a part of the weakened Ulster team which shocked Munster back in 2014 3 The Ireland interim-boss would not look back fondly on that match against McCloskey With He is also the only member of the travelling party which arrived in Tbilisi yesterday ahead of Saturday's Test against Georgia who played against 45-year-old He recalled: 'I was in one Ireland training camp with him. I think I'm the only one in the squad to have played a game against him as well. We won down at Thomond that day for Ulster. "Ulster sent down the biggest B team of all time because it was a dead rubber at the end of the season and Munster had their best team out, they were trying to get second. Read more on Irish sport 'Michael Heaney scored a try. James McKinney was at 10. Good story because the coach said, 'Ah, you'll play more next season' to him and he was actually leaving that summer. 'I won't say who the coach was but you can figure that out.' It was Mark Anscombe, with McCloskey hoping O'Connell's memory is as good as his own. He said: 'I'll not mention that to him, I'm trying to get picked, but I like to think he knows it.' Most read in Rugby Union A year earlier, McCloskey was in Georgia as part of an Emerging Ireland team which competed in the Tbilisi Cup. He said: 'I remember it was the time the animals escaped from the zoo.' 'Magical few days' - Inside Peter O'Mahony's fun-filled Disneyland holiday despite 'bananas crowds' The IRFU press officer quickly quipped that it was not a metaphor. That actual zoo escape saw a penguin swim to the Azerbaijan border. McCloskey's journey has not been quite as dramatic — but neither has it been straightforward. He made his Six Nations debut against England in 2016 but did not appear in the tournament again until seven years later. In the meantime, he won only five caps, all against tier-two nations. Two of them came four years ago, during the last Lions tour, so he knows how they can be used as a launchpad. He said: 'I still think I've got a bit of rugby to go in my career. 'So this Lions period the last time, when we played America and Japan, sort of springboarded me on to get a lot more caps and be a lot more involved. I think I've been involved in two Six Nations wins in that time and a World Cup. 'Hopefully I'll put a good foot forward for any games coming up over the next few years and keep my head around the place and push into the next World Cup. 'I don't think I'm doing a lot wrong. It's just there's four very good centres, two of them are away and you could argue Robbie would've been away as well if he wasn't injured, so I don't think I'm too far off it.'
The 42
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
McCloskey: From playing against O'Connell to being the senior man in Ireland camp
THERE'S A NOTABLY different feel to this Ireland camp for Stuart McCloskey. With so many Ireland regulars touring Australia with the Lions, McCloskey has found himself the oldest member of Paul O'Connell's 33-man squad to tour Georgia and Portugal. The Ulster centre is somewhat reluctant to embrace that senior status. 'Finlay Bealham absolutely did me in going to the Lions,' says McCloskey. 'I messaged him straightaway being like 'you've completely mugged me here, I'm the oldest now'. He [Paul O'Connell] gets a dig in most days about how old I am, but I'm still faster than all those young lads anyway, I've got a few more years left in me. I keep telling Jacob [Stockdale] and Nick Timoney I'll outlast them, so I'll get them at some stage.' The 32-year-old's international career stretches back to 2016, debuting against England as a 23-year-old on the same day a young Josh van der Flier earned his first Test cap. McCloskey even shared a pitch with O'Connell before the former Munster player – who is interim Ireland head coach for this two-game tour – announced his retirement in early 2016. McCloskey spoke to the media in Abbotstown this week. Leah Scholes / INPHO Leah Scholes / INPHO / INPHO 'I think I was in one training camp with him. I think I'm the only one in the squad to have played a game against him as well. We won down at Thomond that day for Ulster, I'll not mention that to him, hopefully that comes up and he sees that. Advertisement 'As a player, [he was] incredibly intimidating, you see some of the clips of him from back in the day and he'd be red carded basically every week for what he did but I think he knows that himself now. It was a different time. 'Intimidating as a player, as a coach he has that intimidation factor but I think he's very personable. He lets the young guys come out of their shell, a bit like what Faz is like. He's watched Faz over the past three, four years and learned a lot from that. How has he put his own stamp on it? There hasn't been a great deal different. He's seemed quite laidback to me, but with me being the oldest in the group it's easy to feel a bit more laidback when you're 32, not 20.' McCloskey is asked to elaborate on his experience of playing against O'Connell, and showcases an impressive recall for a game played in May 2014 – a 19-17 win for the northern province. 'Ulster sent down the biggest B team of all time because it was a dead rubber at the end of the season and Munster had their best team out. I remember it very well. Micheal Heaney scored a try, they were trying to get to second and we were fourth, couldn't go up or down, it was back in the Pro12 days and we got the win, I think it was my fourth cap. McCloskey in action against Ulster in 2014. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO 'I think Michael Allen (played with me at centre). James McKinney was at 10. Good story because the coach said 'Ah, you'll play more next season' to him and he was actually leaving that summer. I won't say who the coach was, but you can figure that out.' Moving to more current concerns, McCloskey says he is framing this two-game Ireland tour as an opportunity to keep himself in Farrell's thinking for future Test windows. Competing for a jersey in one of the most competitive areas of the squad, since that 2016 debut McCloskey has added 18 further caps – 16 of which have come under Farrell's watch. 'I don't think I'm doing a lot wrong,' he says. 'I think when I've played I've went well, it's just there's four very good centres in the lads, two of them are away [with the Lions, Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose] and you could argue Robbie [Henshaw] would've been away as well if he wasn't injured, so I don't think I'm too far off it. 'What can I do better? Keep improving on a few things, probably a bit more physicality in defence, I think I've got most things in attack. Add a few more strings to my bow, whether that's breakdown or poach threat, but overall I don't think there's a lot in it. A few decisions go my way, I'm sitting here with a few more caps. 'I still think I've got a bit of rugby to go in my career, I think I have a few years left,' he continues. 'So this Lions period the last time, when we played America and Japan, sort of springboarded me on to get a lot more caps and be a lot more involved. 'I think I've been involved in two Six Nations wins in that time and a World Cup. Hopefully I'll put a good foot forward for any games coming up over the next few years and keep my head around the place and push into the next World Cup.'
Irish Examiner
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Tour grandad Stuart McCloskey still adding strings to his bow
Whichever end of the age spectrum in a rugby squad a player may find themselves, the reminders of said fact are constant. Just ask Henry Pollock, tour baby with the British & Irish Lions and designated custodian of the stuffed big cat for the duration of the trip to Australia. For Stuart McCloskey, the grandad of the Ireland squad newly arrived in Tbilisi ahead of Saturday's Test against Georgia, there is the good-natured barracking he receives from interim head coach Paul O'Connell, who is expected to name the 32-year-old at inside centre on Thursday. It was not meant to be the Ulster midfielder's role on this two-Test tour which will move onto Portugal after Saturday's one-off Test, yet the withdrawal of Scotland tighthead Zander Fagerson from the Lions squad due to injury meant a promotion for Ireland's Finlay Bealham, 33, which left McCloskey as the senior man in an inexperienced Irish squad. 'Finlay Bealham absolutely did me in going to the Lions,' a vexed McCloskey said ahead of Ireland's departure from Dublin. 'I messaged him straightaway being like 'you've completely mugged me here, I'm the oldest now'. 'He (O'Connell) gets a dig in most days about how old I am, but I'm still faster than all those young lads anyway, I've got a few more years left in me. I keep telling Jacob (Stockdale) and Nick Timoney I'll outlast them, so I'll get them at some stage.' Being reminded his last trip to Georgia as an Emerging Ireland squad member at the Tbilisi Cup a decade ago was not a helpful reminder of McCloskey's status and the Ulsterman said: 'You're ageing me here, I already feel old among these lads, Paulie did it to me the other day as well. Do I remember much of it? No, I remember the zoo, it was the time the animals escaped from the zoo. 'Yeah, I was pretty naive to what professional rugby was 10 years ago. I didn't really know what I was up to, but a few years under the belt, a few more grey hairs and I think I know what I'm about these days.' With Robbie Henshaw injured and both Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose on Lions duty, McCloskey seems sure to add to his 19 caps over the next two weeks, with Jamie Osborne his likely midfield partner at 13 and his experience tells him every cap is a downpayment on future recognition. Asked what his mindset for this tour was, he replied: 'First of all, play well. I still think I've got a bit of rugby to go in my career, I think I have a few years left. 'So this Lions period the last time, when we played America and Japan (in 2021), sort of springboarded me on to get a lot more caps and be a lot more involved. I think I've been involved in two Six Nations wins in that time and a World Cup. 'Hopefully I'll put a good foot forward for any games coming up over the next few years and keep my head around the place and push into the next World Cup. 'I don't think I'm doing a lot wrong. I think when I've played I've went well, it's just there's four very good centres in the lads, two of them are away (with the Lions) and you could argue Robbie would've been away as well if he wasn't injured, so I don't think I'm too far off it. 'What can I do better? Keep improving on a few things, probably a bit more physicality in defence, I think I've got most things in attack. Add a few more strings to my bow, whether that's breakdown or poach threat, but overall I don't think there's a lot in it. A few decisions go my way, I'm sitting here with a few more caps.' For now, his chief problem is the boss's chirping, but McCloskey revealed he has an ace up his sleeve to deal to O'Connell, though he admitted the former Munster and Ireland captain used to terrify him as an opponent. 'I think I was in one training camp with him. I think I'm the only one in the squad to have played a game against him as well. We won down at Thomond that day (in May 2014) for Ulster, I'll not mention that to him, hopefully that comes up and he sees that. 'No, as a player, incredibly intimidating, you see some of the clips of him from back in the day and he'd (be) red carded basically every week (currently) for what he did but I think he knows that himself now. It was a different time. 'Intimidating as a player, as a coach he has that intimidation factor but I think he's very personable. He lets the young guys come out of their shell, a bit like what Faz is like. He's watched Faz over the past three, four years and learned a lot from that. How has he put his own stamp on it? There hasn't been a great deal different. He's seemed quite laidback to me, but with me being the oldest in the group it's easy to feel a bit more laidback when you're 32, not 20.'
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
West Lothian charities need more funding, and say it is an 'investment in communities'
Alan McCloskey, CEO of the Voluntary Sector Gateway (VSG) said that voluntary groups, relied on by the council and by individuals were facing increasing costs. Increased funding for under pressure charities in West Lothian should be seen as 'an investment in communities' as expenditure outstrips income councillors have been told. Alan McCloskey, CEO of the Voluntary Sector Gateway (VSG) said that voluntary groups, relied on by the council and by individuals were facing increasing costs. Third Sector income in West Lothian fell by almost 20% in the last year - down to £84m in 2023/24 from £110m, the year before - while expenditure was down only marginally, from £89.5m to £88.9m. The report presented to the Economy, Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP was designed to give an overview of the work across the Third Sector and the £44.9m in funding which goes into the sector from the council, health and related funding streams. Mr McCloskey told the meeting: 'I think the report rightly touches on funding; it is actually an investment in communities. People are still struggling across the county with the impacts of fuel and food poverty, and the work that the Third Sector does to support communities is still much needed and demand on the services continues.' Mr McCloskey said that the Third Sector had proved 'extremely agile' in supporting people and making a difference to lives. He added: 'We look forward to that support continuing as we move forward.' The majority of the 500 local charities working in West Lothian work in social care, sports and culture and community and economic development. They offer support from among the youngest to the oldest residents in the county. The annual report said: 'The key importance of how the Third Sector is able to draw down funding from external funders is recognised and how that ability helps to deliver key support to our local communities.' Some such as the Food Network put food on the tables of many while others such as the Larder, and West Lothian College also offer skills training and access to employment. Some of those organisations helped such as Whitburn's community Development Trust provide a range of specific services within communities such as a community fridge and community garden. In her report to the PDSP Clare Stewart, Community Wealth Building Manager detailed the collaboration with the Third Sector and the work done alongside funding to help secure external support. She said: 'In 2024/25 the West Lothian 4 Communities, a funding website that supports the Voluntary and Third Sector to search for funding, had 203 registrations users who searched the site 18,251 times. 'The website is accessible for West Lothian based organisations to easily search for funding opportunities across the UK. The site will pull together a list of possible funding sources based on the type of organisation and what activities are being delivered. It significantly reduces the amount of time spent searching for funding.' Councillors across the chamber welcomed the continued partnership between council and Third Sector while acknowledging the funding pressures on voluntary organisations. Councillor Andrew Miller said that money was always tight, but the council relied on the Third Sector 'to do what it does, and so much more, reaching down to people that the council often missed.' 'Money is always tight and it's getting tighter. I wouldn't like to see any of these groups fall by the wayside.' Labour's Craig Meek said: 'I welcome the report on the investment that is put into the Third Sector. It's really important. Congratulations to all that have received funding thanks to council officers and the Gateway staff for all their work.' Councillor Sally Pattle said: 'We know how much we are continuing to rely on the work of Third Sector and how valuable the work is.' Clare Stewart concluded in her report: 'West Lothian Council recognises that the Third Sector plays a hugely important role in complimenting and adding values to the work of West Lothian Council in delivering support within communities. "It is vital that our partnership continues.'
Edinburgh Live
17-06-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian charities need more funding, and say it is an 'investment in communities'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Increased funding for under pressure charities in West Lothian should be seen as 'an investment in communities' as expenditure outstrips income councillors have been told. Alan McCloskey, CEO of the Voluntary Sector Gateway (VSG) said that voluntary groups, relied on by the council and by individuals were facing increasing costs. Third Sector income in West Lothian fell by almost 20% in the last year - down to £84m in 2023/24 from £110m, the year before - while expenditure was down only marginally, from £89.5m to £88.9m. The report presented to the Economy, Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP was designed to give an overview of the work across the Third Sector and the £44.9m in funding which goes into the sector from the council, health and related funding streams. Alan McCloskey the CEO of the VSG told the meeting: 'I think the report rightly touches on funding; it is actually an investment in communities. People are still struggling across the county with the impacts of fuel and food poverty, and the work that the Third Sector does to support communities is still much needed and demand on the services continues.' Mr McCloskey said that the Third Sector had proved "extremely agile" in supporting people and making a difference to lives. He added ' We look forward to that support continuing as we move forward.' The majority of the 500 local charities working in West Lothian work in social care, sports and culture and community and economic development. They offer support from among the youngest to the oldest residents in the county. The annual report said: "The key importance of how the Third Sector is able to draw down funding from external funders is recognised and how that ability helps to deliver key support to our local communities." Some such as the Food Network put food on the tables of many while others such as the Larder, and West Lothian College also offer skills training and access to employment. Some of those organisations helped such as Whitburn's community Development Trust provide a range of specific services within communities such as a community fridge and community garden. In her report to the PDSP Clare Stewart, Community Wealth Building Manager detailed the collaboration with the Third Sector and the work done alongside funding to help secure external support. She said: "In 2024/25 the West Lothian 4 Communities, a funding website that supports the Voluntary and Third Sector to search for funding, had 203 registrations users who searched the site 18,251 times. 'The website is accessible for West Lothian based organisations to easily search for funding opportunities across the UK. The site will pull together a list of possible funding sources based on the type of organisation and what activities are being delivered. It significantly reduces the amount of time spent searching for funding.' Councillors across the chamber welcomed the continued partnership between council and Third Sector while acknowledging the funding pressures on voluntary organisations. Councillor Andrew Miller said that money was always tight , but the council relied on the Third Sector "to do what it does, and so much more, reaching down to people that the council often missed." 'Money is always tight and it's getting tighter. I wouldn't like to see any of these groups fall by the wayside.' Labour's Craig Meek said: 'I welcome the report on the investment that is put into the Third Sector. It's really important. Congratulations to all that have received funding thanks to council officers and the Gateway staff for all their work.' Councillor Sally Pattle said: "We know how much we are continuing to rely on the work of Third Sector and how valuable the work is.' Clare Stewart concluded in her report: 'West Lothian Council recognises that the Third Sector plays a hugely important role in complimenting and adding values to the work of West Lothian Council in delivering support within communities. It is vital that our partnership continues.'
