‘Liam has never grown old, he looks the very same as he always did to me’
AT PRECISELY 3.04pm yesterday, at the bridge named in honour of Liam Whelan, they remembered their classy Cabra cavalier with a bouquet of flowers and a minute’s applause. Among the hats and scarves keeping out the chill were those of Bohemians, Manchester United, Manchester City and Naomh Fionnbarra. The time was appropriate, for it marked the moment in Munich 60 years ago when their local hero lost his life. ‘If this is death I am ready for it,’ were 22-year-old Whelan’s last words before the fatal final take-off attempt. In his 96 games for United, the swivel-hipped inside forward scored 52 goals, and won two League titles. He once scored in eight games in a row, yet fame never turned his head. He said the Rosary nightly and each week, without fail, sent £3 home to his mammy, Elizabeth. Despite the cold, Liam’s sister Rita was present yesterday, having made the short walk from the family home on St Attracta’s Road. Elegant and eloquent, Rita has carried the grief of the ‘big brother I loved’ for 60 years. ‘Liam’s death hit Cabra hard and to have this plaque put up 10 years ago was a great tribute to him,’ said Rita. ‘He would go over this bridge to school, St Peter’s. He has never grown old. He looks the same to me as he was.’ Rita was at the FA Cup final of ’57 where her brother received a Ronson lighter — he never drank or smoke — as the ‘Man of the Match’ even though double-chasing United lost 2-1 to Aston Villa. ‘I often wondered had he lived how good he could have been,’ mused Rita. ‘He was brilliant at football, at snooker and being a brother. He was due to marry that summer, to my friend Ruby McCullough.’ Whelan won just four caps and was denied a fifth by the FAI for playing for United the day before Ireland played West Germany in 1957. ‘I remember him going down to that match [in Dalymount]. He should have been playing but he couldn’t as he had played for United the day before. All the children were looking at him and he felt he was causing a distraction, so he came home, he was so modest,’ recalled Rita. By Liam’s headstone in Glasnevin Cemetery, a fresh wreath glistened while old comrades from Liam’s Home Farm days gathered in Whitehall last night to recall his shimmering greatness.