Kiltoom native John F. O’Brien, a member of the All-Ireland winning Roscommon minor team of 1951, passed away recently in the United States, aged 92. He passed away unexpectedly on February 10th last and was laid to rest in Cleveland where he lived for the majority of his life. The St. Brigid's player lined out at half-forward for Roscommon in the 1951 All-Ireland minor final, scoring a point in their victory against Armagh in Croke Park. In Cleveland, John, a man of deep faith and a lifelong pioneer, became a pivotal figure in both sport and culture. In the 1980s, John helped launch what would become the Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival, which grew to one of the premier Irish cultural celebrations in the United States.

Source: The Herald February 18, 2026 15:15 UTC