Footballer gunned down in Civil War remembered at Offaly commemoration

AN Offaly and Killeigh footballer who was gunned down during a robbery at Leabeg in the Civil War in 1923 was remembered at a commemoration ceremony at the site of his death on Easter Monday last.
Jack Finlay from Killeenmore was just 26 years old when he was killed on that fateful day in February 1923.
Eleven years ago his nephew, also Jack, originally from Dillon St in Tullamore, with the help of his friends the late Billy Cronly and Pat Joe Bermingham, erected a Celtic cross at the site of the incident.
On Easter Monday, 100 years after Jack's death, his relatives and prominent members of Offaly GAA, gathered at the site to remember the incident.
Michael Duignan, Chairman of Offaly GAA County Board, said it was an immense honour for him to speak at such an occasion and to remember a staunch Offaly and Killeigh man.
He said he had passed the site on numerous occasions on his way from his home in Durrow to his native Banagher but was unaware of Jack Finlay's death there.
Stressing his huge interest in Irish history, Mr Duignan said “it was hard to believe that events like this happened in Ireland at the time”.
He recalled that the late Jack Finlay had won a senior football county championships with Killeigh while still in his teenage years and also played senior football with Offaly.
“He was a proud Offaly man and a proud Irish man . . . may Jack rest in peace,” concluded the County Board chairman.
In a brief address, the nephew of the deceased, Jack Finlay paid tribute to all those who attended the event and recalled the work of the late Billy Cronly and Pat Joe Bermingham in erecting the memorial to his uncle.
Mr Finlay also welcomed the late Billy's wife Catherine and son Wayne and noted that Wayne had cleared up the site in preparation for the commemoration.
“Billy Cronly was a great friend to the Finlay family and he is sadly missed today,” stressed Mr Finlay.
He also welcomed Paddy Clarke from Tullamore, who designed the memorial Celtic cross, to the event.
The brief formalities concluded with a rousing rendition of “The Man from Killeenmore”, a song composed in honour of Jack Finlay, by the Brady family from Killeigh.
Afterwards the attendance adjourned to Flynn's public house in nearby Ballycumber for refreshments.