New Oak comes together to remember Peter Byrne
The New Oak youth team (for whom Peter played) and members of New Oak FC came together to play a memorial soccer match in memory of Peter Byrne Photos: Michael O'Rourke Photography
THERE was great community spirit on show at New Oak FC on Saturday 20 June when the family and friends of a local teenager who died in a drowning accident last year came together to honour his memory.
Peter Byrne (17) passed away after getting into difficulty while swimming in the River Barrow last June.
To mark the first anniversary of his death, Peter’s family and his old teammates and coaches at his beloved New Oak organised a memorial match between New Oak youths and a select XI of family and friends, which New Oak youths eventually won on penalties.
Douglas Jewellers generously donated medals and a memorial plate, which was presented to the winning New Oak team following the match.
Over 35 spot prizes were donated for the raffle, held later that evening in Carpe Diem bar, with many others in attendance contributing funds that will be donated to charities and local causes chosen by the Byrne family.
One of Peter’s former coaches, Ernie Core, thanked everyone who contributed to what was a great day to honour his memory and said he hoped it would become an annual event.
“We would just like to say a big thank you to everyone who donated and helped out. I have a list of names in front of me, but I would be here until Christmas if I went through it all,” he said.
