The sad passing of the Reverend Ronnie Craig in his 93rd year marks the end of an era. His sporting exploits date back to just before the outbreak of the Second World War when he was at Queen’s University, and the star in both their cricket and rugby senior teams. He was a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and his son Gavin inherited his father’s cricket passion and is a former President of the Irish Cricket Union.
Ronnie Craig first caught the sporting headlines when he was selected to play rugby for Ireland in 1938, but it was not a good year for the Irish team and in the two games that he played against Scotland and Wales, Ireland lost both times. The war intervened, and although he played for Queens in their historic senior cup cricket win over Armagh in 1940, his rugby career was interrupted by the conflict. After the war he was one of three clergymen in the Armagh team that narrowly lost that epic cup final to Sion Mills in 1947. But Ronnie was to enjoy much more success in the Woodvale ranks a few years later, when he was a prolific batsman and accomplished wicketkeeper, in arguably the greatest years of the Ballygomartin Road club. Ronnie played in five more senior cup finals making a total of seven in all, and was a winner on five occasions. He was a stylish opening batsman and regarded by many people of the era, as very unlucky not to be selected to play cricket for Ireland.
To Gavin and the Craig family we extend our sincere sympathy.
JCH
2 June 2009
