VIDEO: Signed Ulster and Ireland rugby tops fetch £1k for Roddensvale

Signed Ulster and Ireland rugby shirts have been auctioned off to raise money for Roddensvale School, Larne. INLT 04-675-CON

The initiative was spearheaded by Larne man Geoff Kerr, who sits on the Board of Governors and whose child attends the school.

With the help of fellow Larne man and former Irish international, Trevor Ringland, Geoff managed to secure an Ireland top signed by last year’s Six Nations team – including sporting legend Bryan O’Driscoll.

Meanwhile, Geoff was also able to get his hands on an Ulster rugby top signed by the entire squad.

He told the Times: “I placed both items into an online auction, with the Ulster shirt selling for £450 and the Ireland top going for £550.”

The Ulster shirt was purchased by another Larne man, Stephen Love of QCS Contract Cleaning, while Shane Matthews, director of Arthur J Gallagher insurance company made the winning bid on the Ireland top.

And the pair were presented with the framed shirts at Roddensvale on Friday, accompanied by Ulster players Nick Williams and Stuart McCloskey.

Pupils got the chance to meet the Ulster players, ask them some questions, and even pass a rugby ball around with them.

Principal John Madden thanked everyone involved in the initiative and told the Times: “This money will make a huge difference to our pupils. It will go into the school’s gift account and be used to buy our youngsters extra things that we can’t normally afford, such as therapies or sensory equipment.”