Schmidt remembers Mullingar in his new book ‘Ordinary Joe’

Joe Schmidt’s 16 months in Westmeath in the early 1990s are fondly remembered in the former Ireland coach’s new book which was published last week.

Ordinary Joe covers Schmidt’s life from his early years in a small town on the North Island of New Zealand right up to Ireland’s most recent World Cup campaign – which ended with a comprehensive quarter-final defeat to the All Blacks.

Schmidt and his then new wife Kelly moved to Mullingar in 1991 after he took up an offer to play and coach the town’s rugby team. He writes that his first training session with his new charges was “an education”.

“The players were as diverse as the rugby balls had been, they were brilliant craic and very quickly they helped me settle in. I was their new coach, but I was also one of the younger members of the senior squad and I learned a lot from them. I thoroughly enjoyed their company and the challenge of trying to get them organised.”

During his short say in Westmeath, Schmidt also enjoyed a trophy winning season at Wilson’s Hospital School, where he coached alongside the late Joe Weafer, a man he held in high esteem.

“His enthusiasm for whatever he was doing, whether out for a run, coaching the lads or even driving the bus, was inspiring. He was great company and made a difference with minimum fuss and maximum effort.”

Now one of the most respected rugby coaches in the world, Schmidt and his family are grateful for the help and support they have received from local people over the years. Many of the bonds made almost 30 years ago remain strong today.

“We have some great friends from the 16 months we spent in Mullingar. Jas and Marian Gillespie, who adopted us when we first stayed in their bed-and-breakfast in Multyfarnham, have become pseudo-grandparents to our children, especially our youngest, Luke.

“Many others, such as Eddie and Aideen Holland, remain good friends, but we’ve also lost some of them unfortunately. Joe Weafer lost a battle with cancer far too young, and Paddy Keogh slipped away a few years ago. We lost Ray Billington more recently but remain friendly with his family. Ray did a great job looking after us, and these people along with many others made Mullingar a wonderful place to be,” he wrote.

Ordinary Joe is published by Penguin Ireland and the RRP is €25.