Ballina native to play at Ronnie Delaney’s funeral

Ballina uilleann piper Eamonn Walsh is to play at the funeral of all-time great, Olympic Gold Medalist Ronnie Delaney on Monday.

Delaney was one of Ireland’s finest athletes, winning the 1,500m gold at the Melbourne Olympics, aged 21.

As well as this, he also won 1,500m bronze at the 1958 European Championships, and 800m gold at the 1961 World University Games, on top of four NCAA outdoor titles.

Ballina native Walsh has played at a number of high profile funerals, including those of Gay Byrne, Kathleen Watkins, Christy Duignan of Aslan and Slane Castle’s Lord henry Mount Charles.

Ronnie’s funeral mass will take place in the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Foxrock at 11:00am on Monday, followed by a private cremation.