A NORTHSIDE schoolboys’ football club is calling for the local park where it trains and plays to be renamed in memory of a little boy who died there in a tragic accident 20 years ago.
Navan Road United hosted a memorial match in Ashington Park last Friday to remember young Daniel Brady who died there back in 1993. But the local club wants a more permanent tribute to the popular youngster, who was just six-years-old when he passed away.
Daniel was playing in the park when he became trapped under a boulder and drowned in a small pool of water. It’s a day his heartbroken mother, Marese Brady, will never forget.
“I was at home with my daughter who was a baby at the time and Daniel just went out to play,
? she recalled.
“He was only gone about half an hour when I went looking for him.
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Marese called around to the home of Daniel’s friend who had been with the youngster in the park to see if the young pals were playing there. The friend was found hiding under his bed by his mother, terrified by what had happened, but he managed to blurt out that Daniel was in a ditch in the park.
“I flew around but by the time I got to the park there was already an ambulance and a fire brigade there,
? Marese told Northside People.
“The two boys were standing on a boulder picking blackberries when it suddenly started to roll and Daniel fell off and the boulder rolled over him and pinned him down. It was truly dreadful.
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Daniel had drowned in just a few inches of water in the ditch. And although it happened almost two decades ago, the tragedy is still very much remembered by the local community.
A memorial plaque was erected in the park a few months after Daniel’s death and politicians, including Bertie Ahern, sympathised with the Brady family.
Marese recalls that Mr Ahern suggested naming the park after Daniel but despite the good intentions, nothing ever came of the idea. She’s now really grateful that the local football club hasn’t forgotten her son and is fighting to ensure his name lives on forever in the park where he passed away.
“It’s so lovely that they’re remembering him,
? said Marese.
“I was delighted and very touched when they told me what they were doing.
They did a lovely job at the memorial match last year. It was really nice.
“It’s something I’d like done, but it’s not something I could organise myself as Daniel’s mother. It’s brilliant. I love it.
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Chairman of Navan Road United, Stephen Lougheed, who initiated the Daniel Brady Memorial Cup last year, said the club had been lobbying local politicians about renaming the park.
“We think it should be changed from Ashington Park to Daniel Brady Memorial Park,
? he told Northside People.
“It would be just a gesture for the family from the club as we train and play there and they live just across the road from the park.
“We just want to put something back into the community as well. Everybody who uses the park sees the plaque on the wall commemorating Daniel but we think renaming the park would be a more fitting tribute.
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Before last Friday’s game, players from the teams involved took part in a procession and lit candles in a poignant tribute to Daniel.
Last year St Columban’s FC, from Coolock, played United for the inaugural memorial cup and last week the club invited the under-17 side from local rivals Phoenix FC to play the match.
“We’re delighted that Phoenix FC facilitated us for the game as they’re a big club and we’d like to thank them for it,
? said Stephen.
“We’d also like to thank all our club’s sponsors for all their support as it’s badly needed and greatly appreciated by everybody at Navan Road United.
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Navan Road United celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2012 and has gone from strength to strength over the years. The club now has eight schoolboys’ teams and is at the heart of the local community.
“On behalf of myself and our secretary, Sonia Lowe, I’d like to thank the whole committee and all the managers involved in Navan Road United,
? said Stephen.
“Without their dedication and hard work we wouldn’t have anything. I’d also like to thank our director of football, Martin Cashin, and Patrick Carrick for all their hard work.
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