'He was a great character and he's a huge loss. To be honest, the dressing room is not the same without him'

"Life will never be the same for the people of Shinrone after suffering the tragic loss of one of their most loved sons, but hurling, in some small way, has helped with the grieving process."

"The unexpected death of senior hurler Joe Cleary, affectionately known as 'Joe Liffey', having been a long-time employee in the nearby Liffey Mills, rocked the Offaly village to its core in February."

Shinrone faces profound sorrow after the unexpected death of senior hurler Joe Cleary in February. Joe Cleary was affectionately known as 'Joe Liffey' and was a long-time employee at the nearby Liffey Mills. His passing rocked the Offaly village to its core and left the community grieving deeply. Hurling has provided a modest avenue for communal grieving and remembrance. The local club continues to honor Joe Cleary’s memory through matches and memorial activities as part of a final bid to pay respects and support one another during the bereavement.

Read at Independent