Tributes paid to Munster's top fan
TRIBUTES have poured in for a man described as Munster's "number one fan", after he collapsed and died in Paris at the weekend.
Johnny Flanagan (61) died from a suspected heart attack as he and his wife Irene (60) went to take their seats for the Ireland v France Six Nations clash, which was controversially postponed last Saturday night.
Mr Flanagan and his wife were inseparable, and had travelled together all over Europe on Munster away-match trips for the past 13 years.
The pair even became regulars on the Munster team plane as they flew out with their heroes and their families to games in France, England, Wales, Scotland and Italy.
Speaking from Paris yesterday, Mrs Flanagan said she and her husband were travelling to the match at the Stade de France with two friends when tragedy struck without warning.
"The game was on late so we decided not to go out too early. We had our dinner and got the metro to the stadium.
"Me and my friend were walking to our seats at the Stade de France ahead of John and Joe and then there was no sign of them. Joe ran and said John had collapsed. The paramedics were unbelievable. They had him on a stretcher straight away and were running with him. They fought and fought for John but they couldn't save him," Mrs Flanagan said.
Irish Independent
