War hero and forgotten club hurlers remembered

Large crowds gather for event at Kilbannon graveyard

LARGE crowds attended events to remember the forgotten hurlers of the former North Galway club of the 1950s and War of Independence hero Sean (John) Higgins at Kilbannon and Sylane on Saturday.

The Angelus bell rang out from St Benin’s Church for the start of the ceremony, which included the laying of a wreath by Sylane Hurling Club at the grave and Celtic Cross monument in the ruins of the old church at Kilbannon.

Music was provided on three concertinas by Kate Deignan (Milltown) and Aoife Burke (Kilconly) – both of whom are members of Milltown Comhaltas and students at Tuam’s Mercy Convent – and Una Scully, a teacher from Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare.

Una’s grandfather, Paddy Scully, was one of the founder members of the Sean Higgins Hurling Club, which drew players from the Kilbannon, Gardenfield, Sylane and Tuam areas in the 1950s.

The wreath laying was undertaken by Michael John Higgins from Marley, the only surviving nephew of Sean Higgins, and Noel Tyrrell, Chairman of Sylane Hurling Club…

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