There was a big representation of past and present athletes and athletics officials at the removal and funeral of John O’Connell who died on Friday after a long illness. John served athletics for over twenty seven years, culminating with his five year term as the first chairman of Cork county board BLE after it’s foundation in 1967. Prior to that he had served as chairman of Cork county board NACA for a period of ten years. John was also a founder member of St. Finbarrs athletic club, founded on May 5th 1951 in Copley street. He had a reputation for being a very active and hard working official and was Cork chairman at a time when athletics was a very dominant sport in Cork. We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of John O’Connell. We also extend sympathy to the family of Yvonne McCarthy who was tragically killed in a car crash in Rathduff on Friday. She was a former member of Leevale athletic club. Sympathies also go to the young Macra member Michael O’Leary who was found dead in Prague recently. His father Denis competed with Hilltown athletic club back in the fifties and sixties, while his uncle Dermot is a trustee of Leevale athletic club. May they rest in peace.