Northern Ireland

Tyrone captain’s late brother remembered by GAA president as Red Hands lift All-Ireland U20 title

‘There is an empty seat today in O’Moore Park’ - Jarlath Burns acknowledges death of John Rafferty and impact of A5 during trophy presentation

Michael Rafferty lifts the All-Ireland under-20 title with his Tyrone teammates on Sunday. Pictured over his left shoulder is Niall McKenna, chairman of the ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign group, set up in the aftermath of John Rafferty’s death in October 2022.
Michael Rafferty lifts the All-Ireland under-20 title with his Tyrone teammates on Sunday. Pictured over his left shoulder is Niall McKenna, chairman of the ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign group, set up in the aftermath of John Rafferty’s death in October 2022. (Oliver McVeigh)
By Ryan McAleer

The captain of Tyrone’s under-20 footballers has been praised for his resilience after leading his county to an All-Ireland title just 19 months after losing his brother in a fatal road crash on the A5.

Michael Rafferty’s older brother John was killed in October 2022 after his car collided with a tractor between Omagh and Ballygawley.

His death led to Tyrone GAA launching the ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign to lobby for the long-delayed upgrade of the A5 road, where 56 people have lost their lives since 2006.

The 21-year-old Killyclogher man had also been a member of the Tyrone under 20 football squad.

At the time of his death, he was the ninth person to be killed on the A5 within the space of 11 months.

Speaking before handing Michael Rafferty the Clarke Cup in Portlaoise on Sunday, GAA President Jarlath Burns said: “There is an empty seat today in O’Moore Park that should be taken up by his brother John.

A5 public inquiry
Tyrone under-20 captain Michael Rafferty (left), pictured with his late brother John (right),

“But unfortunately the A5, which has been a graveyard to Gaels from Tyrone and beyond, has claimed another life.

“It is testimony to your reliance that you are here today, leading this team out,” said Mr Burns.

“And I also pay tribute to the Gaels of Tyrone for what you have done to turn the A5 dream into a reality.”

Michael Rafferty became the second Tyrone under-20 captain to lift the All-Ireland title in the past three years.

Niall Devlin, who captained Tyrone under-20s to the 2022 All-Ireland championship, lost his older brother Caolan in a fatal crash on the A5 in March 2024.

The 30-year-old from Aughamullan, on the Lough Neagh shore, died after his car collided with a lorry on the A5 Curr Road near Beragh.

Eight people have died in fatal traffic incidents on the A5 since John Rafferty lost his life in October 2022.

Kamile Vaicikonyte (17) and Jamie Moore (19) died in a single vehicle crash on April 30 2024, just a short distance from the section of the road where John Rafferty lost his life.

Former St Ciaran’s College student Kamile Vaicikonyte died one day after signing a petition launched by her school in Ballygawley that called for the A5 to be upgraded.