Bressie to make poignant return to Old Belvedere

THE lead singer of The Blizzards, Bressie, will make a poignant return to Old Belvedere Ruby Club when his band headline the two-day Guinness PRO14 Dublin 7s on May 25 and 26.

Ireland and Leinster player James Ryan, Leinster player James Lowe and Ireland 7s player Katie Fitzhenry helped launch the two-day festival.

 A former Leinster player, Bressie’s last training session took place in Old Belvedere. The singer revealed that his rugby career abruptly came to an end after sustaining a major injury at a training session on the grounds.

So from rugby player to rock star, the singer returns to Old Belvedere for the first time to perform with his massively popular band the Blizzards since the injury forced a career change.

Having just finished recording their latest album, The Blizzards are set to release a brand-new single in the coming weeks, which they will perform alongside their many hits.

A two-day festival, Guinness PRO14 Dublin 7s is a high energy, activity filled sporting event like no other.

Beginning with mixed corporate tag rugby on Friday evening, the event evolves with several exhilarating competitions on Saturday, with Mixed TAG, women’s rugby and men’s rugby alongside the great spectacle of national and international 7s teams. 

With great competition and sportsmanship spectators and players will enjoy a selection of drinks, delectable delights from the mini food village, rugby themed activities and music line-up that guarantees to have you dancing till late.

The two-day event culminates on Saturday 26 with a fancy-dress party before the Guinness PRO14 final kicks off at the Aviva Stadium at 6.30pm.

Then it's back to Old Belvedere RFC for live music headlined by the Blizzards, for a fitting end to a memorable weekend of sport, music and entertainment.

“Playing in front of an Irish crowd as the Ireland 7s team was a dream,” Harry McNulty, Ireland 7s Team said.

“It will be an incredible day of rugby with an atmosphere to match.”

Since its inception in 2015, this event has welcomed a host of international teams to home shores as well developing the game of 7s in Ireland domestically.

This has seen the recent rise of Irish performers such as Tadgh Beirne, Adam Byrne and Alex Wootton who are all 7s graduates.

“With Ireland men’s and women’s 7s teams now competing on the world stage, Dublin 7s sees itself as a part of Ireland’s journey to the Olympics and the world series,” said Will Matthews, Tournament Director.