Former rugby international dies

Date Published: 06-Sep-2007

One of Galway’s greatest ever rugby stars has died – Tony O’Sullivan, who played with such distinction for Galwegians, Connacht and Ireland through the fifties and sixties, passed away suddenly at his sister Marie’s home in Raheny on Wednesday.

Tony, who was part of a golden era for Galwegians and Connacht rugby was from Sea Road, where his father had a butcher’s beside the Jes Church.

His lifelong friend was Johnny Dooley, who played with him for Galwegians, Connacht & Ireland. Dooley lived just three doors away in Sea Road. By sad coincidence, Johnny’s wife Sheila died earlier this week and Tony was planning to travel home to Galway to her funeral.

Tony won his first Irish cap at lock forward in January 1957 at the age of 23 when Ireland beat France 11-6 at Lansdowne Road and retained his place throughout that series, scoring the winning try against Scotland at Murrayfield.

It was something of a golden era for Galwegians and Connacht, with…..