The Mullingar Crash, May 27, 1951

THE MULLINGAR CRASH

70th Anniversary of a heart-breaking tragedy 

ON SUNDAY morning, May 27, 1951 eleven happy football followers left Carlow town in a Comer van destined for Mullingar to cheer on their county against Longford in the Leinster senior football championship.

The fateful journey which took place 70 years ago today - was to end in tragedy with five of the party meeting their death when on the homeward trail the station wagon was in collision with a Dodge car near Kneadsbridge (Lynch’s Bridge), seven miles outside Mullingar.

Carlow was plunged into mourning when news of the tragedy reached the town on Sunday evening. On Monday, Fair Day, the atmosphere in the crowded town was charged with sorrow and sympathy for the stricken families, parents and relatives.

Those who lost their lives were:

HANNAH HOGAN, 87 St Killian’s Crescent, the youngest victim of the tragedy, just 19, and an employee of Carlow Cinemas Ltd, shop assistant in the Ritz bar. She was killed instantly.

THOMAS HADE, 6 Granby Row, was aged 36 years and was employed at JJ Wall’s Garage as a motor mechanic. He was married with four children. He was killed instantly. 

GEORGE SMITH, Dublin Road, was a native of Dublin and had only come to Carlow a few months previously. Managing the news agency business of Robert Whelan he was married with three children. He was killed instantly

EDWARD MOORE, Staplestown Road, died some hours after the accident. Aged 37 years, an employee of Messrs Governey’s Boot Factory he was survived by his widowed mother Winifred Moore, his two sisters Josie Galbally (Carlow) and Annie Errity (Dublin) and extended family.

JOSEPH EGERTON, 3 Charlotte Street, died shortly after admission to hospital. Aged 45, he was Yard Foreman at the Sugar Factory. A widower left five children, two of whom, Maura and Richard, were with him in the van.

SURVIVORS: Those who survived the horrific crash were Maura Egerton and Richard Egerton, Charlotte Street, whose father Joseph was among the dead, Patrick Whelan (44), Dublin Road, a brother-in-law of George Smith’s, Ned Pinckney (23), Dublin Road, Thomas McKechnie (25) 32 Tullow Street, Jack Bergin (63), Chain Lodge, Palatine and Moorestown, Ducketts Grove.

THE CRASH: The Comer van, driven by George Smith, left Mullingar to return to Carlow shortly before 8pm. About this time the seven-piece Jack Frazier dance band from Dublin were on their way by car, with instruments, to play at the opening dance of Mullingar Carnival. 

At Kneadsbridge, just after the van had crossed the bridge and on a straight stretch of road, both vehicles were involved in a head-on collision. In a few moments men and a girl were dead. The horrible suddenness of the tragedy added to the gloom which its announcement spread over the area. 

One of the first on the scene was Mr John Lynch, whose daughter is proprietoress of a licensed premises at Kneadsbridge. Mr Lynch rendered assistance and his car was used in the emergency. 

CARLOW NUMBER PLATES: Other Carlow parties leaving Mullingar met ambulances taking the injured to the local County Hospital but it was not until they saw the Carlow number plate on the van that they realised anyone from Carlow was involved. The van was still upright but was badly smashed. The front wheels, the radiator and the engine were completely wrecked. The car seemed to take the impact on the front on the drivers’ side. 

MICK JONES/JIMMA REA: Mick Jones, who was playing at centre half back that, recalls “we were narrowly beaten by Louth in Croke Park in 1950, a point from a free in broken time did the damage so there were high hopes for ’51, we were beaten by Longford in a replay but that was completely over-shadowed by the ‘Mullingar Crash’

“We came on the scene, I was travelling with Jimma Rea, who wasn’t playing that day for some reason and Doherty, the reporter from the local paper. It was dreadful, the bodies by then were laid out in the field and while I didn’t know them personally, Jimma did and it was very upsetting for him.”

MIRACLE ESCAPE: The driver, Larry Moore, South Circular Road, appears to have had a miraculous escape when his car was wrecked. He got out through a window in the back, and collapsed immediately afterwards. His injuries were not serious. Three passengers from the car were detained in hospital: Jack Frazer (40) 23 Wellington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin Edward Browne (46), 18 Warrenmount Place, South Circular Road (pianist), John Madden (40) 353 Crumlin Road, Dublin.

Four passengers of the car were discharged after treatment – Joseph O’Connor (27), 43 South Richmond St, Dublin; Harry Coats (50), South Circular Road; Thomas King (30), Upper Mount Street; Larry Moore, South Circular Road,

HEAVY TRAFFIC: The road on which the accident occurred bore heavy traffic that evening, and immediately after the crash other motorists were on the scene. One of them drove on to Mullingar to report to the Gardai and to arrange for aid for the injured. Others stopped and rendered what help they could until the ambulances arrived to take the victims to the hospital. Later they were conveyed there in two ambulances and in a number of private cars.

SAW SISTER AFTER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS: Joseph Egerton was a native of the Mullingar district and had visited his sister Mrs Doran of Patrick Street, Mullingar whom he saw for the first time in 25 years after the match. His brother Thomas lived in The Downs, Mullingar.

ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED: Hannah Hogan, who sadly lost her life, was engaged to be married to Thomas McKechnie who was among the injured.

EYE-WITNESS: An eye-witness who saw the scene after the collision described the state of the vehicles. The front of both were badly damaged, and he could not see the steering wheel of one. The three bodies were lying to one side of the front of the van and car.

INQUEST OF INDENTIFICATION: An inquest was opened and adjourned at Mullingar Courthouse on Monday by Mr JJ Macken, Solr, and a jury. The stricken relatives who made the journey that morning from Carlow gave evidence of identification.

WIDOW’S EVIDENCE: Mrs Kathleen Smith, widow of George Smith, identified her husband’s body and said that she last saw him alive at 1pm on Sunday, when he left for Mullingar in his van to attend a football match. Her brother Patrick Whelan and Thomas Hade were in the van at that time. 

Thomas Hade, Pollerton Road, Carlow, identified the body of his son Thomas, whom he last saw on Friday.

James Hogan, a Mineral Water employee, said he last saw his daughter Hanna, at 12.30 on Sunday. She was going to Mullingar.

William Egerton, who is also an employee in Carlow Beet Factory, said his father, Joseph, stated on Saturday night that he was going in Whelan’s can to the match in Mullingar.

Cornelius Farrell, 14 Church St., Graiguecullen, Co. Carlow, identified the body of Edward Moore whom he last saw alive on Friday. 

MEDICAL EVIDENCE: Dr PJ Keelan, Surgeon, County Hospital Mullingar, gave detailed medical evidence as to the cause of death. The coroner paid tribute to the Medical Officers and staff of the County Hospital for the manner in which they dealt with the emergency.

Mr Macken said that this was the worst tragedy he had ever come across. It had cast a shadow over the entire area, He could not picture anything worse than what had happened. He had gone to the scene of the accident on the previous night and afterwards went to the hospital. He could not let the occasion pass without thanking Dr Keelan and asking him to convey his (Mr Macken’s) appreciation of the work that had been done there by the medical and nursing staff as well as the Nuns. About 10 people were brought in at one stage in various states of consciousness. They did Trojan work. He trusted their efforts would bring results so that the remainder of the injured would progress favourably. He desired to convey to the relatives his deepest sympathy in this tragedy. Words could not convey his sympathy.

MR FJ LANIGAN : Mr FJ Lanigan, Solr, Carlow, on behalf of all the relatives, thanked Mr Macken and the other speakers for their sympathetic remarks. He knew these expressions carried with them the sympathy of the people of Mullingar. He would like to be associated with the tributes paid to the medical staff, officers and nursing staff of the County Hospital.

FUNERAL: The public gave full expression to it’s grief on Monday night when thousands lined the Athy Road to meet the funeral cortege when the bodies of Miss Hogan, Joseph Egerton, Thomas Hade and Edward Moore were brought to the Cathedral of the Assumption from Mullingar. Hundreds of people were waiting beyond the Sugar Factory to meet the hearses and by the time the cortege turned into College Street about five thousand sympathisers were in the densely packed throng.

On Tuesday morning all business was suspended when a Special Requiem Mass for the victims was celebrated by Very Rev D.B. Kennedy, Adm, at 11 a.m. in the Cathedral. There were moving scenes as the four hearses, followed by several thousand people on foot left for St Mary’s Cemetery.

George Smith’s remains were interred in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin, on the Wednesday.

70 years later the ‘Mullingar Crash’ and its aftermath remains one of the darkest episodes in county’s history.

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THE FATEFUL DRAWN MATCH: ‘Longford Carlow Inseparable’ was how the 'Irish Press' headlined the fateful drawn game played in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Sunday, May 20 

“Level at half-time – 1-2 to 0-5 – and again level at full-time – 1-8 to 2-5 – was the story of the Carlow-Longford Leinster SF championship first round tie” began the Press report

“A driving rain militated against good football, but the thrills of the game were packed into the last five minutes, as Carlow wiped out four points arrears and then went into the lead, leaving Longford the task of levelling up just on time.

The weather conditions apart, however, it wasn’t a display to delight the selectors, or supporters, of either county. Longford had a great goalie in D Smyth who saved many hard shots while D Lenihan, J McGrath and J Duignan played well in defence.

V Tierney had a good game on the 40 yards mark but the forwards missed many scoring chances and were best served by P Rodgers, D Sheeran and JJ O’Reilly.

Carlow were uncertain in defence and their backs never seemed to settle down, while their goalie did not inspire confidence. Ted Joyce and Martin Lennon took the honours in defence with Jim Hayes a good full-back and Eamon Kehoe good at mid-field. Mick Connolly took the honours in the forward line and scored five of his side’s points.

STORY OF THE SCORING: Mick Connolly had two early points for Carlow before J Tierney scored a surprise goal for Longford from a free and E Maher followed with a Longford point. M Whelan countered with a point for Carlow, but Reilly scored one for Longford almost immediately. Mick Connolly added two points for Carlow and the sides were level at half-time.

A Carlow point on the turn-over was followed by a Wicklow goal, per P Rodgers, and Longford took control in a ragged game as P McGrath added two points. Then came the Carlow rally and great passing movement saw M Lennon goal and L Quigley pointed to level up. P Murphy then pointed to put Carlow in the lead, but just on time a Longford free was pointed by J Duigan.”

The local paper credited Rogers with the fateful levelling point and declared ‘soft goals proved costly for Carlow’ while also arguing “the very bad weather conditions not suitable to Carlow’s type of play

The local paper credits. Connolly (2), Paddy Murphy Micky Whelan and Keeffe with Carlow’s first half point scorers. Connolly pointed again early in the second half,, then Longford goaled, tacked on two points to leave it 2-4 to 0-6

However, Martin Lennon’s side-footed effort dribbled over the Longford line at the end of a great move involving Peenie Whelan, Lennon, Andy Murphy, Connolly and Molloy. Paddy Murphy flashed over two points to give Carlow the lead before Rogers shot the late equaliser. Martin Lennon, Mick Jones, Paddy Murphy and Jim Hayes were the Carlow stars

Carlow: Paddy Hickey; Pennie Whelan, Ted Joyce, Mick Jones; Martin Lennon, Andy Murphy, Jim Hayes; Martin Molloy, Eamon Kehoe; Mick Connolly, Paddy Murphy,

Micky Whelan; Dinny Cullen, J McGrath, Paddy O’Keeffe. Subs: Liam Quigley, Aidan McGee.

THE MINOR MATCH: As was the tradition back then, Carlow and Longford also clashed in the curtain-raising Leinster MFC first round match, the Midlanders winning: Longford 4-3, to 2-1 despite Barrowside goals from L Nolan and Maurice Doogue and an Luke Lacey point.

Carlow: S Kelly; J Kane, P Delaney, M McDonald; J Hogan, P Condron, G Shannon; P Carpenter, E Long; D Connolly, L Lacey, M Murray; L Byrne, L Nolan, M Doogue Sub: E Walsh 

PORTLAOISE UNAVAILABLE: The replay was immediately scheduled for the following Sunday as the winners were due to meet Laois in the quarter-final on Whit Sunday. Portlaoise, though, was unavailable as Wexford and Westmeath’s minor and senior footballers were booked in for Leinster championship action while Croke Park too was housing a MFC/SFC double bill. 

On Tuesday the daily papers carried the news that the replay would be in Mullingar, a decision that was to have ramifications of raw horror that the Leinster Council could never have envisaged 

Tony Myles in the 'Irish Press' in previewing the three Leinster SFC fixtures wrote:; “Carlow and Longford replay their drawn game at Mullingar. Even the most staunch Carlow supporter on Sunday was forced to admit that Longford had a slight edge all the time and deserved at least a three points win at half-time. A few changes in the Longford forward line are likely to improve the attack.

“What Longford need, even more than practice, is coaching. Inclined to bunch in the centre of the field, they have ignored their wings with consequent starving of the inside forwards. This is hardly necessary as they have a rand mid-field pair, the ex-St Mel’s College players, Greene and Smith, the latter’s long frees being a definite asset.

“Carlow got on level terms with Longford with a last minute do-or-die rally which started when Martin Lennon had a grand goal from a solo run. The rally was slightly against the run of play and while it may now be contended that Longford lost their chance, I still think they are good enough to clinch it on Sunday.

They have a fast diving goalie in D Smith, brother of mid-fielder Colm, and an outstanding centre half forward in Tierney. Carlow’s main strength is in their half-back line where Martin Lennon is the ideal attacking back.

Taken all round Longford are the better side and attention to the faults evident in the drawn game will serve them now.

THE REPLAY: The 'Irish Press' correspondent had filed his copy of the replay action a long time before the road accident that claimed the lives of five Carlow supporters. Under a scoreline of Longford 1-7, Carlow 1-1 we read: 

“An early start is half the work done,” was the story of Longford’s victory over Carlow at Mullingar yesterday in the replay of their Leinster SF Championship game, as right from the throw-in, they got down to work and scoring two quick-fire points in the early moments made no mistake about staking their claim to meet Laois in the second round at Tullamore on Sunday next.

Longford took the field like men with a job to do and right well they did it throughout an hour of football which was of rugged variety but, despite the biting rain and piercing wind, was a shade above the ordinary standard.

Compared with their display in the drawn game at Portlaoise a week previously the Carlow team yesterday showed quite an improvement and the Longford men may take great pride in their victory, as never for a moment did Carlow relax and right to the final whistle they gallantly provided tough opposition.

With the two early points Longford went into the lead and clung to it desperately all through the game, although at one stage – early in the second half – when Paddy Murphy converted a lobbing shot from Lennon into a grand goal, it seemed as if Carlow would come from behind just as they did in the drawn game.

However, it was when they were hardest pressed that Longford rose to their greatest heights and overcoming the new challenge in fine style they added further scores without a Carlow reply. Of the two teams the winners lasted the pace, which was a rather fast, and strenuous one, on the very heavy and slippery pitch, much better than the Carlow side, and in the last few minutes they had matters under full control.

A big advantage to Longford was their mid-field pair, Colm Smyth and S Greene, who after the first five minutes, gained the upperhand in this sector from Carlow’s Hayes and Molloy. Having won this supremacy these two men fed the winners’ forwards with a plentiful supply of well-positioned shots, which were quickly turned into important scores.

The Longford team, right down from a solid and understanding defence to their fast-moving forwards, combined perfectly as a go-ahead unit, whereas Carlow were slightly off balance and too many of their players jumping together for high balls tended to spoil each other’s efforts.

Dermot Smyth, in Longford’s goal, added further to his fast-growing reputation as a first class goalkeeper. Lenihan, at full-back, time and again came through many dangerous moments with fine clearances while Duignan and Seamus Smyth were also outstanding in defence.

On the 40 yards position Tierney shone as a roving and elusive attacker, and was ably assisted by O’Reilly and Kelly.

Andy Murphy, Martin Lennon and Peenie Whelan were Carlow’s best defenders, but Whelan’s was curbed somewhat when O’Reilly moved over to the left wing just before the interval. Mick Connolly and Paddy Murphy were their most enterprising forwards.

Tierney and P McGrath had early points for Longford before Connolly (point) raised a Carlow flag. Eight minutes after the start O’Reilly finished C Smyrh’s long kick for a Longford goal. D Smyth saved in fine style under heavy Carlow pressure before O’Reilly (point) put Longford further ahead, to leave the half-time score – Longford 1-3, Carlow 0-1.

Two minutes after the resumption Liam Quigley cleverly gathered Jim Hayes high shot and sent out to Joe Lennon on the wing. His high lobbing shot was finished to the net by Paddy Murphy.

The winners soon replied with a point by Maher. A long scoreless period followed before Longford through points by Tierney (2) and C Smyth pulled away in a game that was played very poor conditions.in 

THE TEAMS:

CARLOW: Aidan McGee (Ballymurphy); Peenie Whelan (Tinryland), Andy Murphy (Tinryland), J Townsend; Martin Lennon (Ballymurphy), Mick Jones (Bagenasltown), Eamon Kehoe (Clan na nGael, Dublin); Jim Hayes (Palatine), Martin Molloy (Clonmore); Mick Connolly (Clonmore), Paddy Murphy (Tinryland) (Capt), Liam Quigley (O'Hanrahan's); Dinny Cullen (Clonmore), J McGrath, Joe Lennon (Ballymurphy). .Subs: Mickey Whelan (Tinryland) for McGrath, Kevin Jordan (Tinryland) for McGee.

LONGFORD: D Smyth; P Rogers, S Lenihan, J Duignan; F Farrell, J McGrath, S Smyth; C Smyth, S Greene; M Kelly, V Tierney, E Maher; JJ O’Reilly, P McGrath, D Sheeran. Subs: T Murtagh, J Casey.

REFEREE: F Dowling