SIXMILEBRIDGE is covered in “a dark cloud” after one resident died while attending the Munster senior hurling championship clash between Clare and Limerick on Saturday evening.
John Walsh was among the Clare supporters seated in the uncovered stand of the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday when he began to feel unwell.
Emergency services and stewards responded to the incident with a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána confirming that the death occurred shortly after 7pm. Assistance was also offered by team medics.
John was a native of Portumna in Co Galway who played minor, U21 and intermediate for Galway. After moving to the Shannon Rd in Sixmilebridge in 1968, he became a loyal supporter and member of the local GAA club for whom his children lined out for and who his grand-children currently represent. He was a regular at Saturday morning sessions in the Arena to watch his grand-children in action.
Prior to the meeting of Waterford and Cork in the Munster SHC on Sunday, a minute’s silence for John was held.
He is dearly missed by his beloved wife Sheila, daughter Orla, sons Cathal, Ruairi and Eoin, son in law Shane, daughters in law and partner Niamh, Deirdre and Aoife, adored grandchildren Ava and Donnacha, brothers Mossy and Timmy, sisters Patricia, Marian and Anne, nieces, nephews, sisters and brothers in laws, extended family, friends and neighbours.
In a tribute posted online, the Sixmilebridge GAA club detailed, “A dark cloud has descended over the village and the hurling community in the last 12 hours with the news that John Walsh passed away on Saturday at the Clare versus Limerick match in the Munster Championship”.
“Anyone that knew John would describe him as a relaxed character who was extremely knowledgeable on the game of hurling – Following his visits back to Portumna he would always have the inside track on up and coming players and he was telling the people of the ‘Bridge to watch out for a nine year old he spotted while visiting his mothers who was able to cut sidelines over the bar – that nine year old turned out to be Joe Canning so John definitely had a good eye for talent”.
With the club, John was an active volunteer for their bingo and was also involved with various team management.
