Adam Mangan, a young footballer from Co. Offaly, had a promising sports career ahead of him. No one could have predicted that by the young age of 19, his career would have ended in the most tragic way.

It was an early October evening when Adam was using a trailer in his local area and subsequently suffered fatal head injuries that led him to be sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Adam was a member of the Offaly minor football panels in 2013 and 2014 and was also a key player for

his club St. Vincent’s in the u21 football  championship final in 2014. His talent showed no bounds as he also lined out for the Leinster rugby team representing his club Tullamore.

In the aftermath of the tragic accident, Adam’s club in Kilclonfert expressed that words could not describe the sadness in their community and club from such an untimely death. Because of this accident,the community is left without a son, a  brother, a neighbour, a teammate and a friend.

Embrace FARM is a bereavement support group for families who have lost a loved one or have suffered serious injury in a farming accident. It was founded in 2014 by Brian & Norma Rohan, following the death of Brian’s father Liam in 2012 on the family farm in Shanahoe, Co Laois. This year

alone, there have already been 5 deaths relating to farming accidents. Sadly, these are not just statistics, there’s a story like Adam’s behind each one of these victims where a family, farm and a community have all been impacted and are forced to pick up the pieces.

Embrace provide support to bereaved families in varying aspects regarding guidance, knowledge and help with the running of the farm, as well as emotional support from those with similar  backgrounds.

As well as coming to terms with the loved ones’ death, they must deal with all of the legalities and formalities to do with the  aftermath of the accident and these are the  practical things that Embrace FARM wants to help and support families with.

The GAA and Embrace are similar in the  fact that one of their main aims is to help and support families.

The death of Adam Mangan, as well as many others, highlights the important role a club can play in supporting a family and a community in the aftermath of such a tragedy. However, it is also important for clubs and their members to be aware of the  many support services that are available in local communities to offer additional