Last Saturday at Thomond Park it's doubtful whether any Irish rugby player has looked more contented with his lot than Mick Galwey. His baby girl, Nessa, clutched in his left arm, he strode around his familiar stomping ground in the aftermath of leading Munster to another famous European Cup win, searching for a television which was showing his native Kerry in action.

As if pre-ordained, they duly won the All-Ireland. The next day would be his 34th birthday. It was as if Limerick, Kerry and the world were revolving around him, and everything he touched turned to gold.

He certainly has plenty to celebrate now between recent fatherhood and rugby, having become the first Irish player to play for his province 100 times when leading Munster to the interprovincial title at home to Ulster the preceding week. Among everything else, he certainly has a good script writer. You could hardly make up better stuff.

"Twas fabulous. I really only got to enjoy it when I came off the pitch after we'd won, but to lead my province on the day we won the interpros for the third year on the trot and to become the first player to play 100 times for his province was something special. With the increased numbers of games for the provinces now I'm sure somebody will come along to break the record, like the Claw (Peter Clohessy) or Anthony Foley, but it's nice to be the first one to have done it."

He's also, by the by, playing the best rugby of any lock in Ireland this season, save for perhaps Malcolm O'Kelly. And that's just taking his play into account, while leaving aside all his leadership qualities.

Different strokes for different positions, number four and five, anyhow, Galwey's workrate seems even to be up on last season and whenever Munster have needed to crank it up - whether it be in the last 10 minutes on the opening night of the interprovincials away to Ulster, or in the first quarter in the Euro opener against Newport last Saturday - he has literally led from the front.

By way of his latest personal landmark he didn't do anything too special on Sunday, having had a few pints on Saturday night. "That's what the professional game has brought on. You have a few social drinks on Saturday night and that's usually it. Besides, it was a bit of a landmark, I seem to have gone from early 30s to mid-30s in one day. But my age is not a problem. I'm enjoying it now as much as I ever did."

He attributes his current wellbeing to the fact that he is simply injury free, and therefore has missed only one session this season due to a slight back strain. While his form this season has been compelling, this Saturday he probably comes up against his main rival for the autumn internationals against Japan and South Africa, namely Castres captain Jeremy Davidson.

"Every game is a big game. In the interpros you're playing potential rivals in the second row for Ireland virtually every week, whether it be Paddy Johns or Malcolm O'Kelly or whoever. But the team always comes first, that's the way I've always played it and that's the way Munster have always played it."

In a roundabout way, there's a slightly selfish method to this selfless approach anyhow, he points out.

"If the team is not winning then there's not going to be many players in the Irish squad. But it's like last season, if the team is playing well then the individual rewards will come along as well.

"You're always coming up against top-class players like Jeremy Davidson at this level, and it may cross my mind some time in the days before the game but once the whistle goes it'll be the last thing I'll think of. The team comes first."

He cites as an example the many people who asked him in the buildup to last week's came if his mind would be wandering towards Croke Park per chance.

"I'd completely forgotten all about it and hadn't thought of Kerry once until someone told me afterwards that they were behind. The lads said I've never left the dressingroom so quickly - I'm usually one of the last."

He found salvation in the Shannon bar, where he tapped into "the affinity between Limerick and Kerry people." But then again, what Limerickman would dare cheer against Kerry in the presence of Gailimh?

Hereabouts, he's a legend in his own playing days, and anyone who'd criticise him or doubt him would want to leave the engine running. Yet he has always had his doubters at national level. It's as if you sensed they were always looking for an excuse not to pick him or to drop him - 13 times he's been dropped in his 31-times capped Test career.

With Warren Gatland and Eddie O'Sullivan in attendance in France on Saturday, Galwey is going to have to prove himself once more.

Getting to the quarter-finals with Munster remains his primary objective, and, he says, he'd like to play for Ireland again in the autumn internationals.

"Those are the short-term goals, and hopefully things will pan out from there."