Search

06 Sept 2025

Offaly granny is Ireland's champion rugby supporter!

Josie Lynam Ireland rugby Tullamore

Josie Lynam (left) and Liz Dolan take their seats in Lansdowne Road to cheer on Ireland

IS this Offaly woman the best supporter of the Ireland rugby team?

At 87 years of age, Tullamore grandmother Josie Lynam has attended every home game in this year's Six Nations championship.

“My uncle [Stephen Lynam] got her tickets for all the Six Nations games, she went up on the train for every home game,” said her grandson Andrew Lynam.

“She's a huge rugby fan and she'd always watch the games on television and this year she got the chance to go to the matches.”

Josie, who lives in Marian Place, Tullamore, was accompanied to the games by her daughter Liz Dolan, who lives in Banagher and along with taking in the rugby, she availed of the opportunity to take in some of the Dublin city centre sights as well (see her pictured below at the Molly Malone statue).

The active octogenarian is a huge fan of Johnny Sexton and was delighted to see the Ireland captain and his teammates clinch the Triple Crown at the weekend at the Aviva stadium, Lansdowne Road.

But she does not confine her rugby support to the big matches – she is just as likely to be seen at her local club cheering on Stephen's son Cian who plays for Tullamore Under 16s.

“We are all so very proud of her,” said Andrew.

To continue reading this article,
please subscribe and support local journalism!


Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles.

Subscribe

To continue reading this article for FREE,
please kindly register and/or log in.


Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!

Register / Login

Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.

Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.