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The Kilgallen Precedent

Not many people know that Diarmuid Kilgallen is a published author.  

With no rugby references or action shots, few would have recognised that the piece in the Irish Examiner – which addressed the final report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Assisted Dying – was co-authored by the new Munster winger.

Read the article here.

Its publication, allied to his continued commitment to his law degree in NUIG and wider contributions to the university’s acclaimed School of Law, saw Kilgallen nominated for Law Student of the Year at the Irish Law Awards earlier this year.

“It was a nice boost,” he says of the acknowledgement. “Thankfully my grades have been decent, but I think the nomination is reflective of the balancing act more than anything else.”

In many ways, a dual career has always been part of Kilgallen’s bigger picture. Even as a prominent schools’ player with Cistercian College Roscrea, he refused to be defined by what happened on the field, involving himself in school life in a variety of ways.

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson

“Leaving Roscrea, rugby was always my number one priority but I never saw college as a Plan B,” he explains. “I always felt I should have a few strings to my bow.”

It’s an attitude he retained even as Connacht Rugby started looking in his direction. Inevitably, Kilgallen’s head was bound to turn yet he also took plenty of time to consider his academic trajectory.

Having been exposed to the legal world in Transition Year, Kilgallen had been glad to find something that seemed to suit his skillset. It was almost a relief that an outlet for his sharp, analytical mind existed and so from an early age, his sights were set on a legal profession.

A more concerted shift in emphasis came about following meetings with Dr Deirdre Lyons and Connacht Rugby staff who demonstrated to Kilgallen and his parents that, with hard work and support, there was an opportunity to marry both his academic and sporting aspirations.

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

“It definitely helped knowing what I wanted to do” Kilgallen says. “When Deirdre mentioned that she had experience of bringing players through a law degree at NUIG, it made the decision pretty easy for me because I knew it could be managed.”

Even as rugby assumed greater importance in his life, the Eadestown man knuckled down in the lecture halls too. While he spread out the final years of his course, he initially threw himself into his curriculum, developing some valuable skills in the process.  

“I learned how to work smart from the beginning” he says. “If ever there were marks on offer, I went after them and made sure to keep things ticking over. I didn’t allow anything to build up and I learned to be really efficient with my time.

“To be honest, I found that the biggest benefit was in how it helped me to develop a very honest and disciplined mindset. There’s no cutting corners in either field.

“Going into college I knew I had a limited amount of time to get my work done so I needed to be switched on. On the other hand, I loved training because it took me away from the library. I felt I was able to give more to each session because I appreciated being there.

“While there’s not much of a skills overlap, they complimented each other more than you’d think. One ended up becoming a break from the other. I really enjoyed that switch-up. I was a player one minute, a student the next.”

Going into the 2023/24 season and the final year of his BCL, Kilgallen understood that it was always going to be a busy one. While his grades were consistently positive, he was disappointed not to feature on the field as much as he would have liked.

Having enjoyed a prolific start, he suffered hamstring and shoulder injuries which saw him sidelined for much of the campaign. The introduction of intensive rehab into his schedule also meant that Kilgallen faced a challenge to ensure his studies remained on track.  

In the midst of it all, his contract was running down. However, though unsettling for most, Kilgallen was largely unmoved. There were a few options on the table, and he approached the matter with his customary decisiveness. 

Mandatory Credit: Munster Rugby

“When the possibility of going to Munster arose I did a bit of thinking about what a new challenge might be like, and what it might do for me. After plenty of conversations I decided it was best for me to make the move. Thankfully we were able to get an agreement in place with Munster pretty quickly which meant I could also arrange the logistical stuff in good time.

“I’m looking forward to getting stuck in. I was like the new kid at school on the first day of term but that’s ok. It was a bit nerve wracking, but nerves are good. It’s exciting.”

Despite the conviction in his choice to move on, Kilgallen recognises the role that Galway has played in all areas of his life since landing out west straight out of school. He plans to maintain a strong connection, especially through the likes of Loughrea based children’s cancer charity, Hand in Hand.

Indeed only last week Diarmuid put his NUIG graduation celebrations on hold to be in Loughrea as CJ’s Rainbow Cycle brought the second day of their mammoth Malin to Mizen cycle to a close. The group, which included Rugby Players Ireland staff member Richard McElwee, were raising funds for Hand in Hand and other charities who support families affected by childhood cancer.   

Anita Murphy Photography

“Galway really feels like a second home to me,” he acknowledges. “A lot of what I know is there. All my mates are there. As much as I knew what I wanted, the reality of leaving was always going to be tough. I was aware of that.

“It’s been quite a period of change because I’m also leaving NUIG and many of my classmates are moving on too. The School of Law at NUIG were so good to me, especially people like Dr Brian Tobin who gave me so much of his time and was often on the sideline to cheer me on too.

“Then Deirdre [Lyons] and everyone in Connacht Rugby… they have been like family over the years. I had an unbelievable time and wouldn’t change it for the world.

“It’s been a busy few years but most importantly, my family have stood by me every step of the way. They’ve been unbelievably supportive of me in everything I do in all facets of life and I am incredibly grateful for them.

“They too know how I like to test myself and grow, and so with their support I feel the time is right to take on the next challenge.”