A bridge in Dublin was yesterday renamed in honour of Liam Whelan, one of the eight "Busby Babes" who were killed in the Munich air disaster in 1958.
Whelan, who was from St Attracta Road, Cabra, was among 23 people killed, including seven other Manchester United players, as well as club staff members and journalists, when the team's plane crashed on take-off at Munich on the way back from a European Cup game on February 6th, 1958.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Vincent Jackson yesterday unveiled a plaque on the bridge at Connaught Street and Fassaugh Road. Also there were Whelan's three sisters and two brothers, extended family, former teammates from his days at Home Farm and Manchester United, including Bobby Charlton and Johnny Giles, and members of the local community.
The inside-right was an Ireland international and was just 22 when he died. He averaged two goals every three matches for Man Utd and scored 33 goals in 53 games in the 1956-57 season.
His brother, Christy, last night recounted how Liam would often return home after matches and that even as a Man Utd player, he would play on the streets with local kids. He said yesterday was a wonderful day for the family.
"To see people like Johnny Giles come over to be here, it's a tremendous tribute," he said.
One of the survivors, former United goalkeeper Harry Gregg, said Whelan was "a very, very, very gifted player . . . his game was all about skill, thought and brains". He added: "It's easy to be a star and be conceited and full of oneself. Liam Whelan was a star footballer, but a lovely human being."