Sad passing of former Leitrim and St Mary's star Liam Flynn

The sudden passing of Liam Flynn (Leitrim & Dublin) has left everybody in shock. As his Leitrim playing colleague Gerry Logan  put it, ‘ Liam was a fantastic talent’ and Liam has the medals to prove it, writes Eamonn Duignan. 

St Mary’s won  four U14 Championships in the seventies, two of which were in 1970, and 1971. In 1975 a young Liam Flynn captained Leitrim to victory in the Fr Manning Cup and was Player of the tournament. Liam was awarded the young player of the year in 1975 at the Leitrim County team awards.

In 1977 Leitrim beat Galway (who were All Ireland Minor champions the previous year) in the Connacht minor semi final in Pairc Sean on a scoreline of 1-10 to 1-9. The match report in the Observer stated ‘Leitrim emerged winners when man of the match Liam Flynn sent the ball over the bar for a one point Leitrim win’. 

What was extraordinary about the point was it was from a fifty, unheard of in the minor grade at the time. The Observer went on “Flynn was no doubt the spearhead of his latest county success”.

In the final against Mayo, Liam outplayed Willie Joe McPadden at midfield in the first half and at half time Leitrim led by one  point. Liam broke his wrist early in the second half and when he went off Leitrim were rudderless without their leader and Mayo won easy in the end.

Liam, although so young, joined his St Mary’s colleagues, Seamus Mulhern, Mickey Martin and his brother Michael on the Leitrim  U21 team that won the Connacht  Championship in 1977 - two Connacht championship medals in the one Leitrim family, was a unique achievement. 

In the All Ireland semi final against Kerry in the second half Liam was well able to match Jack O’Shea, Seanie Walsh and Ogie Moran. Leitrim lost to Kerry on a scoreline of 3-12 to 3-8 in Pairc Sean, in a never to be forgotten All Ireland semi final. 

Liam went on to play midfield with Leitrim seniors alongside his midfield partner and good friend Peter McPartland. Liam took great pleasure when Leitrim beat Galway and he was very upset when Leitrim were winning against Galway in the Gael Linn Cup in Ballinasloe when a fog came down with a few minutes to go and the game was abandoned. The match was replayed and Leitrim were well beaten. What upset Liam so much was the prize of winning the Gael Linn Cup was a trip  to New York. Liam would have loved to gone to New York

A Leitrim county player contacted me on hearing the awful news. He told me ‘I played on the Leitrim team with Liam in the 80’s .The only difference was, Liam was a footballer’. Liam played football for fun and leisure, it didn’t consume him, he played all sports for enjoyment and for the crack with the lads. All his talent was natural, he was so gifted. He was a big man and had great physicality as well. He had it all. 

Can you imagine Liam playing nowadays with Strength & Conditioning and nutrition and all the modern methods of doing things. Liam didn’t need pasta to make him a great footballer, he was one without it. He loved sport and last Saturday, he played a round of Golf and won a prize. Gifted, he certainly was.

Liam passed away suddenly while out for a walk on Tuesday October 17.

On behalf of Leitrim players and supporters, I would like to express our deepest sympathy to his wife Marie, his children William, Sean and Karen, his mother Elizabeth, brothers Michael, Pascal and Gary, sisters Kathleen, Theresa, Pauline, Betty and Deirdre and extended family. May he rest in peace.

Funeral mass takes place on Saturday October 21, at 10 am in the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Ballycullen Ave, Firhouse followed by burial in Bohernabreena Cemetery.

DEATH NOTICE

FLYNN, Liam, late of Firhouse, Dublin and formerly of Killarkin, Leitrim, passed away suddenly on the 17th of October 2023. Beloved husband of Marie and loving father to sons William and Sean and daughter Karen. Predeceased by his father Willie P. Flynn and his brother Ciaran; Liam will be sadly missed by his heartbroken wife, his children, his mother Elizabeth Flynn, brothers Michael, Pascal and Gary, sisters Kathleen, Theresa, Pauline, Betty and Deirdre, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and all extended family, neighbours and friends.

May He Rest in Peace

Liam will be reposing at his home on Friday, all family and friends are welcome. Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday (October 21st) at 10am in the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Ballycullen Avenue, Firhouse, followed by burial in Bohernabreena Cemetery.

Liam’s funeral mass can be viewed on the following link: https://www.churchservices.tv/firhouse