THE LEINSTER COUNCIL GAA Committee has defended holding a Kildare v Carlow game in Athy last night.
Kildare County Council’s Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh had criticised the GAA and Leinster Council for allowing the match to go ahead, just one day after the tragic road collision that claimed the lives of four young women.
Three of those killed were from Carlow - Niamh Doyle (19), Gemma Nolan (19) and Chermaine Carroll (20) – and one was from Athy, where the crash took place - Ashling Middleton (19).
Keogh said the O’Byrne Cup game should have been postponed, given the tragic events that took place on Tuesday night.
I think it was ill-timed, insensitive and the game should have been pulled.
John Greene, Leinster Council’s PRO, said that a minute’s silence was observed by both teams before throw-in. Each of the women’s names were also read out.
Greene said that time constraints meant the game could not be postponed.
“This was the second of three games this week, it meant there was no room to move the fixtures.”
He added that members of the Leinster Council Committee wanted to extend their deepest sympathies to the families of those who died.
A memorial service for the women was held in Carlow Cathedral today.
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