No All Blacks without Donegal man who died at Passchendaele

Dave Gallaher left his home town of Ramelton when he was about five years old

Just weeks after the All Blacks and Ireland met on the pitch, a New Zealand great was remembered in his County Donegal home town.

Although Dave Gallaher left Ramelton when he was about five years old, a pride in his accomplishments remains.

Arriving in New Zealand in 1878, Gallaher's first game for his new country was against Australia in 1903.

He would go on to captain the historic All Blacks team, known as the Originals, who toured Great Britain, Ireland, France and the USA in 1905.

Former New Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick said the legacy left by Dave Gallaher endures to this day.

"We talk about how good people make great teams and great All Blacks and he epitomises everything about the All Black jersey," he said.

Dave Gallaher Park in the All Black legend's birthplace of Ramelton, County Donegal

During the 1905 tour, Gallaher made 26 appearances as the All Blacks won 34 of 35 matches, losing out only to Wales.

But he missed the Ireland game.

Gallaher died in Belgium, during World War One, while at the battle of Passchendaele in 1917.

The 1905 All Blacks touring team won 34 of 35 matches, losing out only to Wales

Fitzpatrick was in County Donegal for the special ceremony at Dave Gallaher Park in Ramelton for an exchange of soil to mark Gallaher's "homecoming".

He described the player as the "original All Black", a moniker a monument in Ramelton also attributes to him.

"What he did in terms of the Boer War, World War One and leading that great Originals All Blacks," Fitzpatrick said.

"Just what he instilled in that All Black jersey in terms of the humility.

"The legacy is so important to us, the legacy of the jersey is more intimidating than any opposition and that's because of Dave Gallaher. He started that."

Fitzpatrick, who won 92 caps for the All Blacks and captained them in the 1990s, said he is staying in the original home of Dave Gallaher while in Donegal.

"For me, personally, this is just a lovely experience," he added.

Sean Fitzpatrick attended the event in Ramelton last weekend

During the ceremony, Fitzpatrick gifted soil - regarded as sacred in Maori culture - from New Zealand's national stadium Eden Park.

This was placed into the ground at Dave Gallaher Park beneath the flags of Ireland and New Zealand.

Some Irish soil from the park was placed in a box for Fitzpatrick to take back to New Zealand.

It will then be put in Eden Park along with soil from Gallaher's grave in Belgium.

All Blacks legend

Malcolm Stewart's grandfather, James, was a first cousin of Dave Gallaher.

"Dave was an ordinary guy, coming from this little town here, and he's now a legend all over the world," said Mr Stewart.

"The exchange of soil was very pleasing for us. It's a monumental day for us knowing that we're connected to this great guy."

During the ceremony, Fitzpatrick gifted soil - regarded as sacred in Maori culture - from New Zealand's national stadium Eden Park

Kevin Shields, who helped organise the tribute, said Gallaher was both a rugby legend and a war hero.

"We can't know for sure, but had he lived, he may have returned to visit his birthplace here in Ramelton," Mr Shields said.

"That wasn't possible, so today we honour his Irish roots by placing soil from New Zealand here at the park named in his honour – a symbolic homecoming."

Alyce Ketcher said there would have been no All blacks without Dave Gallaher

The event also saw a number of musical recitals, including one from a traditional Maori singing group called Te Waka Aumihi.

Group member Alyce Ketcher said for real rugby fans "there is no All blacks without Dave Gallaher".

"If you can imagine the weight of that statement to the rugby fans of New Zealand, there's no way to put into words what he actually means, not only to the nation, but also to the sport," she said.

"He has given so much to New Zealand."

A poem called Common Ground was also read out for the dozens who attended, including Sir Trevor Mallard, the New Zealand ambassador to Ireland, as well as representatives from Donegal County Council and Letterkenny Rugby club.