The GAA Community and the wider community in Ballymena and further afield were deeply shocked and saddened this week at the untimely death of former All Saints player, Aidan Walsh. A statement on the All Saints website read,

“It has been with a sense of deep shock and immense sadness that we learned of the death of our former player Aidan Walsh on Friday.

Aidan was a fantastic underage star for All Saints. He was instrumental in our club winning its first underage silverware in many years when, along with his twin brother Tiernan, he led our under 14 footballers to the South West championship, achieved under the coaching of Brian Loughran and Aidan’s loving father and long-time committee member, Michael.

Aidan was also a skilful hurler for All Saints and won underage hurler of the year under the tutelage of coach, Owen Elliot.

Alongside Tiernan, Aidan was a key player for a number of very successful Co. Antrim football development teams until he was struck down with a serious knee injury at U16. A massive blow for All Saints and Co. Antrim as it curtailed his development for a time’.

Manger of the Antrim U16 team in 2001 and former All Saints and Antrim player, Frank Delargy fondly recalls the contribution Aidan and his brother Tiernan made to a very good Antrim team who reached the Buncrana Cup final that year.

When I spoke to the Portglenone man this week he reflected on Antrim’s path to that final in 2001 and the contribution that Aidan Walsh and his brother Tiernan made.

“Having overcome Down and Armagh, Antrim travelled to Monaghan and needed a victory to top the group. With little to separate the sides with a few minutes left on the clock, Aidan won a great ball, rounded his marker and fired an unstoppable shot to the net from his exceptionally cultured left foot to win the day for Antrim”.

 Frank has vivid memories of that particular contribution and also the esteem in which Aidan was held within that group which went on to defeat Tyrone by 11 points in the semi-final, before meeting their match in a close contest with a Derry side that went on to claim an All Ireland Minor title two years later.

 “Many of that team went on to represent their county at senior level, but Aidan held his own comfortably in that company. Had it not been for a horrendous run of injuries Aidan would have been on this same path-way. Along with brother Tiernan, on the pitch the Walsh brothers could hold their own amongst their peers across Ulster, as they proved on many occasions.

Aidan was a pleasure to manage, a real gent. On behalf of that exalted squad please pass on our sincere condolences to the extended Walsh family circle.” Frank Delargy concluded.

 Not one to let injury deter him Aidan’s hard work ethic, enthusiasm for sport and love for All Saints GAC saw him strive to return. At a time when knee operations and research on the necessary rehab were not as well-known and successful as today Aidan worked relentlessly on and off the field to get back to playing.

His hard work and positive mental attitude were a great example to all of his team mates. He went on to return to the field and was a key player for our minors, U21’s and senior footballers before heading to England to continue his studies eventually qualifying as a teacher.

Aidan returned from his period away to continue to be an important player for All Saints Senior and Reserve football teams for many seasons, the highlight being his contribution to the winning of their second county Intermediate football championship in 2008.

Playing in All Saints teams alongside his brothers Fintan and Tiernan these were extremely proud days for his mother Maria and father Michael who rarely missed a game supporting on the sideline.

A great man, talented player and beloved teammate who never missed a training session, complained, or challenged a manager or referee. He had a love for the game, his team mates and All Saints GAC.

The deepest sympathies of all at All Saints go to his wife Anne, his children Cain and Caitlin, his mother and father Michael and Maria and his siblings Tiernan, Fintan and Aisling.

His sudden death on Friday at St. Patrick’s College, where he was a teacher and made a major contribution in promoting Gaelic games within the school sent shockwaves through the school and parish community.

As a fellow club member and someone privileged to have watched Aidan Walsh as both a player and later as a coach I have fond memories of him and I extend my sympathies and those of all at the Saffron Gael to the Walsh family.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.