GAA star’s father dies on his farm

The GAA world was plunged into shock yesterday by the death of the father of Kilkenny’s All-Ireland winning hurling captain in a fatal farm accident.

Johnny Ryan, aged in his early-60s, lost his life when he was pinned against a wall by his tractor at his farm at Dunbell near the village of Clara, after 11am yesterday.

His son Lester Ryan, a teacher at St Kieran’s College in Kilkenny city, lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup in Croke Park after last September’s All-Ireland hurling final replay.

He and the rest of the family were said to be “devastated”.

Mr Ryan, whose family is “steeped in the GAA” was a prominent GAA official, coach and steward following his own playing career. He is survived by his wife Lilly and sons Lester, Tom and Liam.

He had captained the Kilkenny over-40s hurling team to an All-Ireland title some years ago. As a mark of respect, Kilkenny have pulled out of the Walsh Cup inter-county competition in which they were due to compete this weekend against NUI Galway on Friday and Carlow on Sunday.

The decision, accepted by the Leinster GAA Council yesterday, was also made in response to the ongoing search for Derek Tyrrell, cousin of All-Star Kilkenny hurlers Tommy Walsh and Jackie Tyrrell, who is believed to have fallen into the River Nore at the weekend and has not yet been located.

Clara GAA club chairperson Carmel Brennan said last night the entire parish was “stunned” by the death, describing the family as “the backbone of the club”.

“Johnny and his brothers were always the first to volunteer, be it stewarding or parking cars, preparing for matches, and so on,” she said in a statement. “We are stunned and saddened by his untimely death.”

The gardaí at Thomastown in Co Kilkenny, as well as the Health and Safety Authority, are investigating all the circumstances surrounding yesterday’s accident on the family farm.

The location is in the parish of Clara and about 4km from Bennettsbridge.

It’s believed Mr Ryan had been using his tractor to spread slurry on his land and had got out of the vehicle when it suddenly rolled backwards, pressing him against his wall and causing fatal injuries.