Offaly GAA Club remembers three supporters who died in accident 50 years ago

ST Rynagh’s GAA club held a 50^th anniversary commemoration for three club loyal supporters who tragically lost their lives in a car accident returning from a match in Carlow in 1976.
St Rynagh’s won the county final in 1975 and went on to play Kilkenny champions James Stephens in the Leinster club championship. The match was played in Carlow and three St Rynagh’s men who travelled to support the team, lost their lives on their way home at the Pike of Rushall in Co. Laois in a car accident. Incidentally, the match was played on January 25^th 1976 and last Sunday (January 25^th) was an appropriate time to commemorate Mel Flynn, Michael Lyons, Mick Corrigan on this the 50^th anniversary of their deaths.

On Sunday last, the three victims were remembered during Mass in St Rynagh’s Church which was offered by Fr Michael Kennedy. Afterwards, a huge crowd turned out for the blessing of a tree and the unveiling of a plaque to the three victims. Brother Brian Johnston blessed both the tree and the plaque in a poignant ceremony where many tears were shed and many relatives of the three victims were in attendance for the commemoration.
Sympathy was also extended to the Nallen family on the death of club stalwart Gerry Nallen, which occurred earlier in the morning. Gerry was the first St Rynagh's captain to lift the Senior County Cup back in 1965 and will be greatly missed by everyone connected to the club and beyond.

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