The heartbeat at the centre of a rugby golden era for Ireland

THE passing of scrum-half rugby legend John O’Meara breaks a link with a famous golden Irish rugby era that yielded Grand Slam, Triple Crown and Five Nations titles.

Mr O’Meara, aged 82, passed away earlier this week at his home in Castletownshend, Co Cork, in the care of his family, following a long illness.

Tributes have poured in from rugby and sailing personalities and representatives of the legal profession, a business in which Mr O’Meara was immersed throughout his working career as a partner in Cork-based Barry O’Meara & Son.