Visiting rugby school player is grandson of woman from Shandonagh

For the captain of a South African school rugby team due to play a friendly against a Mullingar side next month, lining out in Westmeath will have special meaning.

That's because captain, Kienan Luke Jordaan will be back in the home town of his grandmother, Nuala Somers (nee Whelan), a native of Shandonagh – and not too far from the home turf of his grandfather, Luke Somers, who is originally from the Strawberry Beds in Lucan.

Proud grandmother Nuala – who uses Skype to keep in contact with all her relatives around Mullingar, is justifiably proud of Kienan – as is his mother, Lisa Jordaan, Nuala's daughter. Lisa reveals that the journey to Ireland will be a momentous event for Kienan as he has never before this been to Ireland. Lisa is coming on the trip too, as is her husband, Linus Jordaan, who, like Kienan has never been to Ireland before, although Lisa has visited in the past.

Kienan is a student at Springs Boys High, and the school is arriving at the start of October, to play games at Limerick, then Mullingar, and finally in Dublin. Their Mullingar game is fixed for October 5. “Springs Boys High is such a brilliant and proud school,” says Kienan's mother, who says the boys are passionate about the game of rugby. She reveals that the school's official colour is green – due to the fact that when it opened its doors in 1940, its headmaster – named Claude Mullen - was a man of Irish descent. The school is on the east side of Johannesburg, and is noted for the excellence of its students' academic results and its holistic education approach.

Nuala Somers reveals it's 45 years ago now since she moved to South Africa. “I got married in 1971 and we went straight away,” she says, explaining that her husband had come out two years before that. The couple had their own insurance and medical aid company in South Africa, and made several return visits.

Nuala has proudly retained both her accent and her Irish identity, and remains fully in touch with events back here thanks to the enthusiasm with which she has embraced technology, especially Skype – even though she is well into her mid seventies now. While a sister, Phil Fitzsimons from Tullaniskey, and a brother, Jimmy Whelan of the Dublin Road, have now passed on, she still has two siblings living locally – Mary Nally of Gainstown and Dermot Whelan of Crookedwood, as well as lots of nieces and nephews and cousins. 

Says Lisa Jordaan of the impending trip: “It is very exciting for us all, I haven’t been to Ireland in about 13 years I think (my sister and hubby lived there for 3 years so I went to visit her). “We see a few family quite often as they travel here to visit as it’s so cheap with our currency but very expensive for us to go there. “You would probably pay one euro for a beer here or have a gorgeous meal (300g matured fillet) with all the extras for about 10 euros.

“It will be my husband's first visit outside of South Africa never mind his first visit to Ireland. He is Afrikaans and we been married for nearly 20 years, so he is beyond excited. It’s been a long-time dream of his to meet all the family. “Kienan too as he is definitely the Irish son: he has my very fair skin (his dad has gorgeous tan skin) so definitely he took after the Irish side!”

Says tour organiser Mark Marais: “The rugby team visiting your town are certainly not the elite, but mostly a group of boys that would not have an opportunity to experience travel of this nature.”

He added that as it would have been difficult for some of the boys' families to afford such a trip, fundraising events were held to subsidise the cost. “The excitement within the team is growing as a large percentage of the team have never left the borders of the town they were born in. Include flights and a different country the anticipation is huge,” he said.