Yesteryears: Investigation in mysterious spate of serious illnesses in Tipperary

We go back a full quarter of a century for our YESTERYEARS feature this week, to our edition dated May 16, 1998.

Our lead story that week was health related and we reported that an appeal had been made to the South Eastern Health Board to carry out an investigation into the spate of serious illness that had struck the Carrick-on-Suir community.

Cancer, heart problems, asthma, leukemia and other serious illnesses were on the increase in the town according to public representatives who were demanding a health board survey to ascertain how serious the problems were and the possible causes.

“The people of the town are frightened about it. It’s getting out of hand” claimed Cllr Pat Ryan at the monthly meeting of Carrick-on-Suir UDC. “There is a spate of serious illness after hitting the town. There is a lot of worry and concern. Every day you hear of somebody dead or seriously ill. Age does not seem to matter,” added Cllr Ryan.

The Nationalist newspaper itself was also in the news that week with the official opening of its refurbished offices and introduction of new technology systems at Queen Street, by Minister of State, Noel Davern, “a major step in the preparation for the challenges of the new millennium,” wrote Eamonn Wynne.

The function was attended by a large and representative gathering from the local community including political and civic leaders and church representatives. Also present were many of the newspaper’s town and village correspondents, contributors and freelance photographers.

And a young soccer player, then plying his trade with Wolverhampton Wanderers, and who would go on to achieve huge fame and fortune in his sport had his connection with Clonmel highlighted by journalist Sian Moloughney. Robbie Keane, who had just been added to Mick McCarthy’s Irish international squad, once played soccer in his family home town of Clonmel.

“The new darling of Irish soccer supporters played schoolboy soccer for Crumlin United against St Oliver’s, according to his granduncle Jerry Keane, who lives at Baron Park, Clonmel. His parents, Robert and Ann, are regular visitors to the town. It was Robert Keane who brought young Robbie down from Dublin for the cup match which Crumlin won in extra-time, thanks to a goal from Robbie.” The rest, as they say, was history for Ireland’s greatest goalscorer.