Stephen Jameson – RIP

Stephen Jameson

RIP

28th September 2025

For the past 48 hours a great swell of shock and sadness has spread out around the membership as the news of the sudden death of Steve (Jamo) Jameson.  Too often we lose members, but the loss of such an almost mystical and indomitable hero as Steve, stuns.

A native of Cavan and from farming stock he inherited a love of livestock, farming and indeed Cavan. At one stage he kept cattle. His dad, a veterinarian, had a keen interest in Steve’s rugby career and was to be seen at most of Steve’s matches; he loved to share a pint of Guinness and a chat after the games.

Having had a very happy and successful scholastic and rugby time at Rockwell as a boarder, and a period playing at Monkstown FC of which he held the happiest of memories, Steve joined St Mary’s College RFC in 1988.  He played on the Ray Hernan captained Leinster Senior League winning side, 1988-89, and immediately made a big impact. He was captain of the club from 1992 to 1994 and skippered his team to win the Leinster Senior Cup in 1993, and that famous AIL final V Young Munster, in Lansdowne Road.  However, it was in the AIL that Steve excelled and reached astral status, as he and his battling secondrow partner Pottsy bestrode the league as titans. During the halcyon days of AIL, all through the 90s Jamo was to be seen to his mighty best. He was a majestic force in lineout and loose.  Highly skilled in his role and with a grinding will, he was peerless.  He was an inspirationalleader and loved his club and his team with a passion. During the days of the Munster clubs’ dominance in the fiery AIL, that dominance was disputed by Marys and personified by Jamo. The ferocity of the matches was shuddering with that great Marys team standing shoulder to shoulder as they revelled in the white heat of that passion. He was highly respected throughout the game and nowhere more so than in Munster where he is still mentioned in awe, for he was fearless, but never indulged in foul play or unsporting behaviour. He stood with his pack, not an inch given in that furnace; as a Gulliver in Lilliput; he was a colossus. He was recognised throughout the game and earned 23 Connacht and 23 Leinster caps. Unfortunately he retired, due to injury before his club became the first Leinster one to break that dominance and win the AIL in 1999-2000 season. His playing time at Marys spanned the change from amateur to professional, and at the change Steve found himself in demand.  He did not wish to embrace the full professional game and so turned down opportunities offered to join the pro ranks in Leinster.  During his Leinster career he was on a Leinster winning team that beat Leicester.  Jamo Marked Martin Johnson and experts all agreed, he measured very favourably against the famous Johnno, who was at his pompat the time.  He also played Ireland A.  He was asked one time by Reggie Corrigan if he if he would work hard behind him.  Jamo thought and replied, you might go up or go down but I guarantee you will never go backwards. That was for sure.

During the famous Club rugby trip to Sicily, Steve entered a swimming race and to great delight from his pals he won. One to be particularly overjoyed was his pal, Fange, who it was said, had put a nice wager on Jamo.  With that pal too, he shared a love of horse racing and attended meetings regularly.He was a Francophile and bought a small holiday home in Vendee and encouraged Fange to do likewise; he did and the two families shared many joyous holidays there.

Steve was a consummate gentleman who was a dedicated family man. He had a deep caring personality and was fondly admired and liked widely.  He was sociable and warm hearted with a fine sense of humour, he was intelligent with a sharp enquiring mind.  His wife, Emer, a highly successful business woman, was a keen Marys’ supporter through all Steve’s playing career.  Steve too was an entrepreneur and successful business man.

Jamo was eclectic in his interests, he played golf and was a member of Dun Laoghaire Golf Club and regularly played with Emer’s dad.  They had a warm, close relationship and a good humoured golf rivalry. He travelled widely with Emer,especially in Asia.  While in Singapore, his son Dylan came home to Dublin to study and while there, played with St Marys. Steve, who retained sharp rugby brain, was Director ofRugby in the Australian School, Singapore. He also coached rugby at Beijing and learned how to use chopsticks; and play It.!

He was a gourmet diner with a wide range of tastes and appreciations, his descriptions of some of his food experiences were said to be artistic and almost exciting.

Jamo never forgot his club and was frequently up with his old teammates and close friends, especially his old Marys’ colleagues, like Declan Fanning and Steve Hennessy and was recently out golfing with Malcolm O’Kelly.  He retained a close friendship with Denis Hickie and Victor Costello too.

He kept very fit, and had on return from Asia, taken up a position as Facilities and Event Manager at Leinster Rugby,where he was extremely well regarded and popular. He celebrated his 60th birthday recently with his family and many of his St Marys’ friends and old teammates, in top form. All at St Mary’s College RFC will ever remember with great affection and awe, the actions and the man, Jamo!

The President Gareth Logan, his committee and the membership, send deepest sympathy to Emer, Lauren andDylan.