Lissycasey GAA mourns losses

MEMBERS of Lissycasey GAA and all in the community are in deep shock this week following the tragic deaths of a current and former player.

Brian Casey, aged 26, died at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick on Monday as a result of injuries sustained in an incident at O’Connell Square, Ennis on St Stephen’s night.
Brian was a prominent member of the club’s senior panel for the past four years. He played at every level for the club since first coming to prominence playing football at primary school. He was a member of the senior championship and Cusack Cup winning panels in 2007 and had been a first-choice defender throughout the past two seasons. He helped the club to a number of underage titles during the past decade.
Noted for his leadership qualities, he was one of the driving forces behind the early start to preparations for the 2010 campaign.
A dedicated member of the club, Brian travelled home from his base in Mallow every week for training and games with Lissycasey. Throughout Sunday and into the early hours of Monday, clubmates, many of whom were with him when tragedy struck on Saturday night, joined his family in maintaining a bedside vigil at the Limerick hospital. A number of his clubmates returned from Australia and Boston earlier this week when news of his untimely and tragic death reached them.
Brian is survived by his parents, Martin and Eileen; his sisters, Martina and Aileen; his brother, Niall; his girlfriend, Cecilia; aunts; uncles; cousins and a large circle of friends.
Brian’s death at just 26 years of age, came shortly after the tragic death of Pat Kelly, Coolbawn, Lissycasey, a former player with the club. Pat lined out at full-back for Lissycasey in the minor B championship final in 1979 when the local side lost by a point (1-5 to 1-6) to Kilfenora.
Tommy Meere, Cloncolman, a great club supporter, also died tragically at the weekend after sustaining injuries in a fall while walking in icy conditions.