‘A very popular young man and a friend to everyone’ – Kilkenny community mourns young hurler who died in road tragedy
TRIBUTES have been pouring in for a popular and talented young Kilkenny man who was tragically killed in a road accident early this morning.
Eugene Aylward, who was in his early 20s, died after the car he was driving struck a wall at Knockwilliam, outside Ballyhale, shortly after midnight.
With the local community in shock and mourning, Ballyhale Shamrocks cancelled all of their senior and junior fixtures this weekend following Eugene’s tragic death.
The club posted the following message on social media this morning: “Ballyhale Shamrocks GAA extends its deepest condolences to both the Aylward and Cullen families on the devastating loss of their son Eugene. As part of our Senior panel Eugene was a very popular young man and a friend to everyone who was lucky enough to have known him.”
Eugene was an integral part of the Shamrock’s team that won the Senior Hurling club All-Ireland title earlier this year and will be long remembered for his performance in the 2017 under-21 county final, where his second-half display helped inspire Ballyhale to victory over James Stephens.
Tributes have been pouring in online from far and wide for Eugene, his family and the club.
A woman in her 30s also injured in the incident was rushed to University Hospital Waterford, where she remains in a serious condition.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to contact Thomastown Garda Station on 056 775 4150.
