The Late John Lowry Another link with one of Galway football's most glorious years, 1956, was broken with the death of John Lowry, Cloonmore, Tuam on October 1st. John, a stalwart defender in the famous Tuam Stars team which won seven County Championships in a row in the 1950's, was one of two Tuam players (the other was Mattie Mannion) forced out of the Galway 1956 panel by injury, early in the connacht Championship. Therefore, bad luck cost him the opportunity to play in the great team which defeated Cork in the epic '56 All-Ireland final at Croke Park, a team which featured three other Tuam men who were destined to become legends of the game: Jack Mangan, the victorious Galway captain that year, and the brilliant forwards Seán Purcell and Frank Stockwell. At John Lowry's funeral, a Galway Maroon and White No 2 jersey was draped on the coffin. That gesture of homage was made by Football Board chairman Pat Egan in Consultation with former Corofin Footballer Patsy Keating. At club level, John was also noted for his man-to-man duels with the renowned Dublin forward Kevin Heffernan, in special matches between Tuam Stars and St Vincent's in the late 1950's. A friendship developed between the two men and they exchanged Christmas cards down through the years. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. Courtesy of the Tuam Herald 6th October 2007 Tweet

Most Read Stories