Tony Conboy's Oblique View

Deaths of former Roscommon GAA stars

One of the great Roscommon footballers of the county's Golden Era died last Sunday. Brendan Lynch who was from Oran died in Bray where he has lived for many years. Brendan was a tough uncompromising wing back on Roscommon's greatest team, winning an All-Ireland minor medal in 1941 and Senior medals in '43 and '44. He played on for Roscommon until 1953 and was selected on the Roscommon team of the Millennium and more markedly on that Connacht team also. Brendan was 91 years of age, his birthday being on February 14th. Whatever about his demeanour off the field he was certainly no Valentine on it. His lifetime career was in the Garda Siochana. So, in anticipation of a regular question, the members of that great team still with us are: John Joe Nerney who's 92nd birthday is today, Tuesday April the 1st; Liam Gilmartin who lives in Dublin and will be 93 in June and the man I refer to, from time to time, as 'the forgotten man' Paddy Beisty who lives in Rathcroghan.

Another member of the '41 minor team also died recently. Frank Bambrick from Cootehall died in London. He was aged 92. He was a regular with St. Michael's through the forties until he went to England circa 1947 where he continued to play. He qualified from night school as an accountant. He was a regular visitor to North Roscommon and his sister Josie Gaffney in Boyle. I talked to him a number of years ago in Termon and he referred regularly to his friends Boyle from those past years Paddy Daly and John Joe Nerney. His is survived by many Bambrick connections in North Roscommon including his sister Josie and nephews Joseph and Sean of Rockingham. May they rest in peace.

Best wishes to:

Some 'good lucks' (awkward phrasing) now. I wish the best of luck to former Boyle GAA star Peter Bolger who has become manager of the Boyle senior team. It will be a 'challenging' campaign. Consolidation in senior status is the primary objective I guess.

My second best wishes go to Ballinameen/Boyle (!) musician John Carty who will be part of the celebratory concert at The Royal Albert Hall, on Thursday April the 10th, titled Ceiliuradh (Celebration) in honour of the visit of President Michael D. Higgins to the U.K. I do not know if any Boyle person in London will read this but it promises to be a special event. For John and the extended Carty family it will be a memorable occasion.

Finally the best of luck to the Roscommon U 21 team in the Connacht final at Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday at 2.30 for the game against 'surprise packets' Leitrim. Roscommon were great against Mayo but had us all nervy in the Sligo game. Personally I think there is a lot of quality in this team so hopefully Roscommon will prevail.

On Thursday morning Frankie Flynn from Padraig Pearse's club will continue his fundraising walk from Boyle GAA ground starting at 9am. This is in aid of Pieta House West based in Tuam. So if you are available you would be welcome to accompany Frankie for a part of his journey out of Boyle towards Croghan for this important and worthy cause.

Tony Conboy, Forest View, Boyle, Co. Roscommon Mob: 086 816 3399