- Updated 19.40
A MAN HAS died in Co Kilkenny after the tractor he was in rolled back on him.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is investigating the death of the farmer, who is in his 60s.
The man was named locally as Johnny Ryan, father of Kilkenny player Lester Ryan.
As a mark of respect, Kilkenny has pulled out of the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup on Friday 23 January and 25 January.
In a statement released this evening Clara GAA Chairperson, Carmel Brennan, said:
The Ryan family has long been the backbone of the club and Johnny and his brothers have always been involved in all the various parish activities and committees.
We are stunned and saddened by his untimely death and all club activities have been cancelled until further notice as a mark of respect to his entire family.
Johnny Ryan had played for Clara when the side won their first County Championship in 1986.
The Irish Farmers’ Journal said that the Ryan family run a dairy farm in Kilkenny, and that it is understood there was a slurry tank attached to the tractor that rolled onto Johnny Ryan.
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) President Eddie Downey expressed his condolences to the Ryan family, on behalf of the farming community, following the fatality.
“This is a very difficult time for family, neighbours and friends of Johnny Ryan.”
Downey said the IFA would “re-double its efforts to promote the importance of farm safety”. He also encouraged all farm families to “adopt the highest level of vigilance in the day-to-day operations on their farms”.
The HSA was informed by the gardaí about the death, and investigators were dispatched to the scene.
The fatal accident, which is the first farm death of 2015, occurred before 12pm today at a farm in Bennettsbridge.
- First published 15.30
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