Ringmahon Rangers: A Band of Brothers

This is a photo of the Ringmahon Rangers team of 1968/69, winners of the Munster Senior League, Senior Shield, and Keller Cup.

Back L to R : Christy Ahern, Johnny O’Leary RIP., Ned Barry, John Lynch, Pat Fitzgerald, Paddy Ahern.
Front: Val Sheehan RIP, Paul McCarthy, John (Langhton) Fitzgerald (capt,), Eugene Gosnell, Michael O’Leary (RIP).
Sitting: John Barry and Christy Looney.

The team consisted of four sets of brothers, the Aherns, Barrys, O’Learys and Fitzgeralds. They were a hugely successful team.

In the South Gate of 1995, Con Hannigan later wrote of the terrible tragedy for the O’Leary brothers and their family.

“December 15th 1974, that terrible and never to be forgotten boating tragedy occurred, causing the deaths of the O’Leary brothers, Johnny and Michael, two stalwart members of the Ringmahon teams. A third young man, David Aherne also lost his life. David was another great players having had the honour of winning three Munster Junior cup medals.”

The three local men in their 30s were returning home after a day’s fishing nearly 46 years ago in the harbour when a sudden squall sank their small fishing boat off Little Island as they came around Carrigrennan Point heading into Loughmahon. This tragedy cast a pall of gloom and sadness over the entire area.