The death has occurred of former Limerick hurler Éamonn Rea.
The Effin native was full-forward on the team that claimed the county’s seventh All-Ireland title in 1973 when beating Kilkenny, the only time that they secured the Liam MacCarthy Cup between 1940 and 2018.
Remarkably, Rea was marked by his brother Gerry in the 1973 All-Ireland semi-final with his sibling lining out for London, who had shocked Galway in that year’s quarter-final.
He was also part of the side that returned to the All-Ireland final in 1974 as Kilkenny exacted revenge though he received an All Star nomination for his efforts that year. His Limerick career spanned from 1964-75.
A resident in Dublin since 1968, Rea was closely associated with the Faughs club on the southside and for many years ran a popular bar that bore his name on Parkgate Street in the city centre.
Affectionately known as Ned, he remained a staunch Limerick supporter and was elated when the 45-year gap was bridged in 2018, to such an extent that he had become reluctant to talk publicly about his own All-Ireland success.
Speaking in February 2019, months after Limerick had reclaimed the MacCarthy Cup, he said: “I didn't want to be seen talking about 1973...'Here he is back again, let it go!' You know. I didn't want to be intrusive or allow '73 to be talked about.
“I suppose hurling is in an awful lot of a better place in Limerick now than it was when we won. It's all about the present and now the future.
“'73 was great. It was a great few years when you'd have people ringing me slagging me about it. It was good to me as well, professionally and all of that.
“It's over, it's history now. It's all about the present squad of players.”
Having been present to see Effin’s Limerick intermediate title success last month, he had remained active until very recently and passed away today following a short illness. He is survived by his wife Mary, son Seán and daughter Lisa.
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