Notice of AGM 2024

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Notice of Annual General Meeting

30th April 2024

To:- All Club Members

The Annual General Meeting of Longford Rugby Football Club will take place on Thursday 23rd May 2024 at the Clubhouse, The Demesne, Battery Rd, Longford, Co Longford at 8.00pm.

Only fully paid up Members can attend and vote.

Any Motions for discussion must be signed by a fully paid Member and presented in writing to the Club’s Honorary Secretary by 9th May 2024 at the latest otherwise cannot be accepted. The presenter must be present personally at the Annual General Meeting to propose the Motion otherwise it cannot proceed.

The Club Director Nomination form for the positions of

  • Honorary President
  • Honorary Vice President
  • Chairperson
  • Honorary Secretary
  • Chairperson of Rugby Committee
  • Chairperson of Finance Committee
  • Chairperson of Administration Committee

is available by clicking on the link below, “Notice of AGM.pdf”. Please download, print, fill out and return. Nominations must be signed by two fully paid up members and be sent to the Honorary Secretary by 16th May 2024 at the latest.

Notice of AGM.pdf

Hilary Davis

Honorary Secretary

Email: secretary@lrfc.ie

Auld Blacks Dinner and Awards 2024

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The Longford RFC Auld Blacks will be relaunched on the 2nd February 2024. For full details of the Event itself, please click on the .pdf below.

The Event can only be booked through Eventbrite. To book tickets, please click on the following link:-

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/auld-blacks-dinner-and-awards-ceremony-2024-tickets-774295808607?aff=oddtdtcreator

LRFC Auld Blacks Relaunch on the 2nd February 2024.pdf

Auld Blacks reminiscing with Karen Lennon

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In the third of our series, Eamon Considine chats with Karen Lennon, Longford’s incoming President, about her time with the Club.

“I come from Co. Westmeath and in 2003 I came to Longford to take up a teaching post. I had played school football growing up but I had a desire to give rugby a ‘try’. That opportunity arose in 2005 when Jenny Butler started the women’s team and so my association with Longford Rugby Club began. I played with Longford until about 2013 and in that time playing I earned a cap playing with Connaught. Playing rugby is only a small part of my connection with the Club. Over the years I have coached senior and under-age teams and I am currently coaching the Mini’s and the under 18 girls team.

Being a member of a club with Derick Turner in it means you can’t say no when he comes to you with another idea, or another job you could do. I have several titles but the one I’m most proud of is Vice President. Next year I’ll take over from Donagh McDonnell, as President, something I’m really looking forward to and a role I’m honoured to have as I will be the first Lady President of the Club.

There are now 17 under-age teams in the Cub, which is an amazing achievement. To sustain this, so many people have to give of their time coaching, managing and travelling with the kids, and Longford is lucky to have these people. It is hoped that many of the under-age players, in time, will continue to play for Longford at a senior level and continue the magnificent work this Club does.”

Auld Blacks reminiscing with Patrick Quinn

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In the second of our series, Eamon Considine chats with Patrick Quinn.

“My first involvement with Longford Rugby Club was 1966/67 when I was home from Newbridge College. Longford Rugby Club had been dormant for many years and some of our players, like Warren Turner and Paddy Quinn, were actually playing with Mullingar. In 1967 a match was arranged with a group of us, who were quite young, against Mullingar. John Doris let us use the dog track as our pitch and we had goal posts put up. Even though Mullingar were our biggest rivals over the years, they were the team who played more games against us in the early years than any other club. This helped us enter the Midland League and later the Cup. Over the next few years my brothers Noel and Ciaran played with Longford and many of my Quinn cousins, including Paddy, John and Seamus, also appeared in the black colours for Longford.

Around 1970 we moved to a field in Abbeycartron and played our matches on this dry but sloped pitch. We used to tog out in a couple of garages at the side of the Annaly Hotel and return afterwards to shower under a pipe pouring out cold water. At that time Longford Rugby Club was fortunate to have some forward thinking and progressive people involved in it. The likes of David Pearse, Jack Comerford, Syl Higgins, Pat Fitzgerald and others were planning the Club’s future and acquired a field beside the tennis club to play on. This pitch was later fondly known as the cabbage patch. In the mid 70’s plans were made to build a Clubhouse and another couple of fields were purchased. The likes of Derick Turner and Pierce Ryan were behind this, and the Clubhouse opened in September 1979.

My rugby career with Longford continued up until 1982 when I played my last match, not for Longford, but against them with the Quinn Fifteen. There were 13 Quinn first cousins and two others, Mick Quinn and his brother Charlie, on the team. I moved away from Longford about that time, but I’ve always followed their progress and gone to matches whenever I got the chance.

Since my first involvement with the Club, I have met some amazing people who have given of their time voluntarily for the betterment of the Club, be it being on the bar teams, to coaching, and driving youngsters to matches. I’m a proud Longford man and an even prouder Longford Rugby Club man.”

Patrick, of course, is part of an extended Quinn family who have had a long association with the Club, going right back to it’s re-formation in 1967.

Reminiscing with Dan Magan

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In the first of what we intend will become a regular feature on the website, Eamon Considine reminisces with people who have had a long association with, and involvement in, the Club.

First up in the interviewee’s chair is Dan Magan.

“Rugby for me started in 1978 at about 13 years of age, at Longford Rugby Club. I joined an underage team who had been playing together for four years and had some characters on it, even at that age. Brian Lyons, Johnny Killane, Paudjo Kane, Eamonn Considine were all established members of the team. I was on the U13 team who played the first match at the opening of the Clubhouse in September 1979. Looking back, I may have been a little old to be part of that team but due to my young looks I got away with it.

I continued playing underage up to the U19’s and then graduated to the dizzy heights of Longford thirds. There were great characters like James Connolly and Norman Goode to guide me along and break me into the team. Longford Rugby Club was not only a sports club for me but it was the place to be on a Saturday night, for the disco with DJ Gerry Conboy. It was on one of those Saturday nights that I first set eyes on my future wife, Louise. She had been visiting a friend in Longford and had the great fortune of being brought to the Club that night and meeting me.

Over the years I helped coach underage teams along with Matt Hanley and Micheál Duggan. I realised the commitment our coaches like Derick Turner and Denis Madigan gave to us, with giving up week nights and weekends travelling the Midlands playing games. Longford Rugby Club for me is one of the most progressive clubs around in any sport, with all the facilities, pitches, and the wonderful people who are involved in the running of it.”

Dan, of course, is a member of an extended family who have had, and continue to have, various roles in and about the Club. Our thanks to Eamon who conducted the interview and to Dan for having shared his memories.

Annual Business Lunch

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On Friday 3rd November the Club hosted our 2nd Annual Business lunch where attendees were treated to a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon’s fare which continued into the evening and, for the bravest, into the early hours of the following morning. Aah…..a reprise of the good old days! Writing in the Longford Leader Tommy Lyons stated:-

 

“Business people and rugby fans from across Longford converged on The Sin Bin at Longford Rugby Club last Friday to support a novel fundraising lunch.

The feature point of the afternoon was a discussion with two of the county’s most successful businesspersons and rugby tales “from inside the camp” from the legendary ‘Rala’ O’Reilly.

The annual business lunch took place last Friday (November 3) and was a replica of last year’s hugely successful inaugural event. The club presented an afternoon of quality business networking, industry leading speakers and top hospitality.

The welcome address was delivered by Karen Lennon, Vice President Longford RFC, and the event opening fell to Mike Magan, Chairperson Longford Rugby Club.

Mike spoke of the importance of the fundraiser for supporting grassroots rugby: “We do not do this alone. Many help us on this journey, you are part of this,” he said.

Benny O’Brien presided over a conversation with Michael Brewster and Padraic O’Kane. The men spoke of the importance of their Longford roots in the development of their careers and how the connection with the local community helped shape the directions they took in life.

Michael Brewster is a Managing Director at Stifel, an American multinational independent investment bank and financial services company. Michael runs the Brewster Financial Strategies Group.

A graduate from Institute of Technology Athlone Michael emigrated to America in 1989.

He is a Director of the Ireland US Council, and involved in many charitable endeavours associated with Sport and Education both in the USA and Ireland.

Michael gave a wonderful insight into his business resilience; from working for £2 an hour in the Annaly Hotel, to the set back of working at Lehman Brothers Inc when they filed for bankruptcy in 2008, to founding the Irish International Business Network in the USA.

Padraic O’Kane, a past student at St Mel’s College continues to be a stalwart member of LRFC. Padraic played for the Club with distinction and was capped for Leinster Youths.

Padraic’s revelation that his decision to seek pastures new was precipitated when “Turner put me on the fourths” drew much hilarity from the guests.

As CEO and founder of Corporate.ie, the Longford man presides over a portfolio of brands including FIRE Steakhouse & Bar, SOLE Seafood & Grill, The Round Room at the Mansion House and the Aer Lingus College Football Series.

Patrick ‘Rala’ O’Reilly gave an engaging insight to the inner workings of Irish rugby he has gleaned over two decades as kit man with the IRFU and the British and Irish Lions.

Club President Donagh McDonnell thanked the guests for their ongoing support: “We are proud of what we do but we can only do this with your help,” Donagh said.

Donagh said the money raised will develop facilities to afford young people access to sport: “Running a club like we have here is both a challenge and a joy. We achieved quite a lot and want to continue to grow and develop,” he concluded. ”

Back: Donagh McDonnell (LRFC President), guest speaker Michael Brewster, Karen Lennon (LRFC Vice-President), Pat Fitzgerald (Past President IRFU), guest speaker Padraic O’Kane and Mike Magan (LRFC Chair). Front: Ian Morgan, Joe Flaherty TD, guest speaker Patrick ‘Rala’ O’Reilly and Benny O’Brien (compere).

Our thanks to Tommy Lyons and the Longford Leader for permission to print this article in full and for the use of the picture.

The Club wishes to extend it’s appreciation and gratitude to all attendees, to Precision Health who were the event’s Main Sponsor, to Davis SuperValu who provided additional sponsorship, to our three Guest speakers who gave of their time, namely, Michael Brewster, Padraic O’Kane and Patrick “Rala O’Reilly, to our compere for the day, Benny O’Brien, to all who generously donated Auction Prizes (Padraic O’Kane, John Naughton, Pat Fitzgerald and Bank of Ireland) and to the volunteers within the Club who worked tirelessly to make the event an outstanding success. Finally, note the date in your diary,,,the first Friday in November 2024 for the 3rd iteration of the event.

Photos

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Annual Business Lunch

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On behalf of the Executive Committee, we would like to invite you to our Annual Business Lunch on the 3rd November.  Details of the day’s activities and speakers are in the brochure which you can access by clicking on the link below. Last year’s inaugural event was a huge success, and we are confident that this year’s event will be even better again. It would be great if you could join us for an afternoon of quality business networking, industry leading speakers, top hospitality and rugby tales “from inside the camp” from the legendary “Rala” O’Reilly. Bookings can be made for a table of eight, a half table, on in one’s or two’s.

We hope you can join us and thank you again for your ongoing valued support.

Minis

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Minis return to training . All our Minis (U12 downwards, boys and girls) will return to training on Sunday 3rd September at 10.30 am. All newcomers are asked to check in to the Office (beside the main door) and collect a Membership application form. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Longford RFC Senior Awards 2023

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Longford Rugby Clubs annual senior players awards took place on Friday evening. The awards were preceded by the annual Derek Belton XV v Derek Bannon XV game in memory of the club’s two playing members sadly no longer with us.

The games teams comprised of players from the U18 squad who recently won the Leinster plate, in addition to a wide age ranging number of current and former players. The game itself was very entertaining with a few golden oldies keen to remind us of their silky skills with ball in hand!

Tries were aplenty for both sides with youngsters Sam Davis, Brian O’Ferrell and Sergi Madden all impressing.

The awards presentation MC was club Vice President, Karen Lennon, who called on Danny McHugh to introduce the Leinster Plate winning U18 team who were each presented with their winning jerseys. Following that the Senior Ladies nominees stepped up for their awards.

Senior Ladies Awards

The Ladies awards winners were

Most Improved Player – Amanda Sheridan (pictured below)

Player of the Year – Tegan Evans (Pictured Below)

Players Player of the Year– Emma Dardis

Special Presentation

The ladies team also made a special presentation to retired coach, Nuala McGoey, to thank her for her years of commitment to the ladies team. An emotional Nuala spoke of her love for the game, the club and her teammates throughout her career with Longford Rugby Club and encouraged the players to continue to make progress in their playing career and strive to achieve their dreams.

Picture Below:

Senior Mens Awards

The senior men’s awards began with the team presented with their Midlands League medals after winning that competition earlier this season.

The individual players award winners were

Young Player of the Year – Cormac Casey (Pictured Below)

2ndXV Player of the Year – Philly Prunty

Most improved player of the year – Seamus McKeown

Players Player of the Year – Tom Gilheaney

Senior Player of the Year – Ryan McHugh (Pictured Below)

Senior Club-person of the Year

The Club person of the year award acknowledges the significant voluntary contribution of a person who works tirelessly for the club, without whom the club would not function as it should.  Their efforts are invaluable as the benefits to each and everyone in the club are immense and its fitting to recognise their contribution.

The 2023 Club Person of the Year – Jimmy Murphy

Jimmy has served as Youths Coordinator for many seasons, working tirelessly to manage all on pitch activities for youth and minis teams at the club. Jimmy also has been involved with youth’s coaching in that time and this season he led his U18’s side to the rewards they deserved in winning the U18 Leinster Plate competition. There isn’t a more deserving personality in the club to receive this recognition. Everyone at the club would like to congratulate and thank Jimmy for his much-appreciated contribution to our club.

Longford RFC Notes 01/05/2023

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U17 Plate Final Report, Girls Rugby Give a Go, Mr Boots Award and more…

By Padraig Murphy Longford RFC PRO Ph: 087 6063587 Email:  lrfconnects@gmail.com

Youth Rugby, sponsored by MLC, Midlands Language Centre. 

U17 Leinster Plate Final Longford U17’s 7 – Mullingar 24

For the final game of the Longford U17’s 2022/23 season, Longford took on Mullingar in the Leinster Plate Final. It was a wet and slippery day in the North Kildare club grounds which would usually suit the Longford game.  In front of a large crowd of supportive parents, family, and friends, both teams went at it right from the start, with Longford playing downhill in the first half. Longford took to the task like ducks to water, keeping their defensive line and capitalising on the opposition mistakes. The game went from end to end with some great tackling and some good strategic kicking. We were dominant in the pack and needed to be, as there were sixteen lineout’s and eleven scrums in the first half. One of these lineout’s was a result of a brilliant tackle by Caelum McGee to drive the Mullingar winger into touch. Mullingar looked to spread the game out to the wings, where they believed they might do damage. In fact, it was Oran Lyons who made the first burst up the wing, out of his half and was just brought down inside their twenty-two. In another attack, Mullingar kicked the ball, Caelum caught it, he kicked and chased after it, a fumble by the collecting Mullingar winger, hacked on by Caelum into the five-metre line. However, Caelum was unable to gather the ball and it was knocked on. At half time it was still scoreless, in a typical cup game, with neither team wanting to concede.

In the half time talk by Ronan to the lads, he said that this game was going to be won by the team who made the least mistakes. As Mullingar had the benefit of the hill in the second half this put the young Longford men under pressure. Points were going to be precious in the game and Mullingar missed a penalty and a minute or so later tried for a drop goal. The men in black held out for a further 10 minutes, but one missed tackle on the wing let them in for the first try of the game. After the introduction of Cathal Byrne to the front row, Leinster U18’s panellist, Yaw Appiah moved out to the centre. The lads were still under relentless pressure and 20 minutes into this half after defending four rucks on the wing, the ball squirted out for Mullingar centre to go in under the posts. With Mullingar now twelve points in the lead, and Longford now chasing the game, the heads dropped somewhat.  In an effort to inject new energy Cian Gavin was introduced for the tiring Sean Molihan. The team’s overall focus wilted.  After a long season, and some having only a few hours’ sleep after their foreign travels, they found it hard to concentrate. Straight from the drop off the ball was gathered by the Mullingar centre who broke through three tacklers and, when Alex Forde down brought him, he had support runners to off load to and they ran under the posts again.

The constant defence was taking its toll on players with scrum half Conor Mulligan and then second row Jack O’Hara having to come off injured, being replaced by Cathal Ghee and Christopher Trautt.  After the drop off, the ball was kicked back and as Longford tried to break out from defence the ball was knocked on, gathered by a Mullingar player for them to run in at the corner. The game was now beyond Longford with 4 minutes left, but the lads did not give up and wanted to show our fellow midlanders that we have matured as a team since we last met 6 months ago in the league. After getting a penalty just inside the Mullingar half, Ciaran Heffernan picked and went, took the ball into contact and the ball was passed to James Grehan who carried twenty metres. After another few phases, Alex made a darting run up along the wing, offloading to Yaw, who took it into contact in the midfield, passed to James, who drove straight for the line, to be stopped inches short, then for Cathal Byrne to pick and drive over the line for the try. Out-half Rian Browne, kicked the conversion to a rousing cheer of the Longford supporters. This spurred the lads into life and there was now some great strong carries by Stephen Oates, Cathal Ghee, Ciaran, James, and Cathal Byrne to cross the gain line, and, with Diarmuid Glennon kicking into the Mullingar 22 being last play, Mullingar were delighted to kick the ball out and take the victory. Congratulations to our neighbours on winning the Leinster U17’s plate for this season.

The forwards did some great work, our jumpers in the lineout, Olan Bracken, and John Sheridan, secured our own ball and disrupted the opposition line out. We were also dominant in the scrum’s and drove the opposition back in every scrum with Sean and Jack in the engine room, giving us forward momentum. Our half backs, Conor & Rian, managed and controlled the game under exceedingly difficult conditions. Centres, Diarmuid Glennon and Alex, had a difficult day with the pacey opposition running at them all the time. Wingers, Oran Lyons and Diarmuid Rawle had the hard task of trying to mark their opposite numbers as Mullingar’s tactic was to spread the ball wide, but we kept them at bay for two thirds of this game. Caelum at full back had been best game of the season, putting in try saving tackles and the kicking from hand and, if he had the rub of the green, the ball would have bounced up for him to score a try in the first half. It was great to have strength on the bench in the two Cathals (forming their own comedy show, to compete with the two Johnnies), Cian and Chris, and to be able to spring them from the bench at vital times.

This season was a great journey for this bunch of young men. After a slow start we started to gain momentum in November and were in good shape, morale wise, coming into the Christmas. Ronan’s game plan was starting to work, and the results continued to show in the New Year, with only defeats to Athy (in the League Final), Edenderry in the cup (who were the ultimate winners of the Leinster Cup – congrats to them), to our final game against Mullingar in the final of the plate. The young men can now rest for the summer but can look forward to a next season playing as the Longford U18.5’s side, the senior youth’s team for the club. After this season’s U18.5’s having a brilliant win in the plate, also in North Kildare, we would hope that we will be able to emulate their success. Thanks to all the parents & supporters who travelled. But special thanks to Ronan, Danny, and Michael for their coaching this season and for Eamon, Jimmy & Kevin (we missed your photographic skills) helping in the organising of the team. Also, thanks to the parents who helped out in catering for the teams during the home games and for ferrying their men into training and matches during the season. Most importantly, thanks to the players for this year’s memories.

Mr. Boots Award Night

Longford Rugby Clubs Derick Turner will be presented with the Mr Boots Award at a dinner in Longford Rugby Club on Friday 26th May.

The Boots Award is a prestigious award presented by the IRFU to someone from across the Island who has made an incredibly significant contribution to Junior rugby. 

Tickets for the event are €50 and given Derick’s massive contribution to Longford RFC over more than half a century we think it only fitting that we honour this great achievement.

To purchase tickets please contact one of the following

David Bird 086 6002704

Karen Lennon 087 7449228

Tony Headon 086 0618614

Donagh McDonnell 086 2668822

Youth Rugby awards presentation 

The youth’s awards presentation evening will take place on the Friday 2nd of June, bank holiday weekend.

It Is hoped to have the Triple Crown and Six Nations trophies at the club for the awards, courtesy of former IRFU President and Longford club man, Pat Fitzgearld. Please check out our social media accounts for updates and further information.

Clubman and former IRFU President, Pat Fitzgerald presenting Ireland and Leinster Rugby’s Robbie Henshaw with his B&I Lions cap recently 

Girls Rugby – Give it a Try

Longford Rugby Club are  hosting a girls rugby Give it a Try series over the coming weeks.  The training sessions will run from 6.00pm. . This is a perfect time to try out a new sport, meet new people and make new friends.  For further information please contact Karen on 087449228.

Link to Leinster league and Midlands’s area competition fixtures and results can be found on the following link.

https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/domestic-rugby/domestic-fixtures-results/

Youth’s training 

Training for all youths teams has now finished for the season. 

Age group, coach contact details and in season training schedule as follows:

Please contact the coaches below ahead of next season for updates.

Girls’ teams

U14 girls – Mags McKenna  087 6309653

Wednesday 7:00-8:15pm

U16 girls – Eugene Larkin 086 6015325

Wednesday 7:00-8:15pm

U18 girls – Declan Smyth 085 1375973

Wednesday & and Fridays 7.30pm

Boy’s teams

U13 – Pauline Marlowe 087 632 3373 schedule TBC

U14 – Lisa Brady 087 6119960

Monday 7.00-8.45pm

Saturday 10.30-11.30am

U15 – Declan Elliott 086 8125363

Wednesday 7.00-8.15pm

U16 – Aoghan Clarke 087 6727002

Monday and Wednesdays 7.00-8.30pm

U17 – Padraig Murphy 087 6063587

Thursdays 6.30-8.30pm

U18.5 – Freddie Forde 086 1727145

Tuesdays and Thursdays 7.00-8.30pm

U18.5’s – Jimmy Murphy 086 2555621

Thursday 7.30-9.00pm

New players welcome at all age groups.  Just turn up with a gumshield.

Please follow club social media for updates on our Instagram & Facebook profiles – Longford RFC

Mini Rugby

And that’s a WRAP.  The book has closed on the 2022/2023 Mini’s Season and what a way to finish. The final training session saw over 130 children attending training on a showery Sunday morning.  

We would like to say ‘Thank you’ to all the coaches for your time and patience, the parents for trusting us with your little darlings and the children for making all the effort worth while. 

Minis player Micheala Marlowe presented with her Certificate of Participation from club President Donagh McDonnell

A special word of thanks to our wonderful Minis Coordinator, Pauline Marlowe, for another superb year of organized chaos management, job well done.  Without such a stellar job, the activities of the Minis section would not have been possible.

SEE YOU ALL AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER!!!

#overandout #shouldertoshoulder

#minisrugby

The minis section requires assistance each year from positive and proactive people to help with the development of the teams. If you are interested in helping, please contact Pauline Marlowe or chairperson, Gerry Carthy. 

For further information please contact Pauline Marlowe, Mini Co-ordinator, Longford RFC.  Mob – 087 632 3373

Please follow club social media for updates on our Instagram & Facebook profiles- Longford RFC.

Boot room

Parents – Why not check out the hugely popular Boot room here at Longford rugby club where we have a self-replenishing stock of replacement boots. You drop in a pair you no longer need and replace it with a pair that fits your child. That way your pair of boots does not go to waste and someone else gets to benefit also, thus also helping someone else save a few Euros. 

If you have any boots that you wish to donate or exchange, please bring them into minis training and drop off the office for the attention of Gerry Carty or Pauline Marlowe who will assist with selecting the replacement pair. Boots should be clean, laces intact and no missing studs. No blades will be taken in.

Please note it is not possible to guarantee there will be a suitable replacement available however we have rarely not had some to choose across a wide range of sizes.

For all Longford RFC club correspondence please contact 

Ph: 087 6063587 Email:  lrfconnects@gmail.com