Dominican priest Conleth Cronin, who died in 1973

Today is the anniversary of the death of Dominican priest Conleth Cronin, who died in 1973.

Con, as he was known, was driving his Honda 50 from Tallaght back to St Saviour's Dublin, where he was living at the time.

He had been playing a game with the GAA club Thomas Davis on that fateful Sunday afternoon. It was a wet dirty November day when he crashed his motorbike.

Con was a past pupil of Newbridge College. He grew up in the Curragh, where his father was a member of the Defence Forces.

At the time of his death he was still in his 20s.

Con Cronin was a most interesting person. It would be easy to describe him as a character. And that he was.

On a first encounter with him it would be easy to get the impression that he was a rough diamond. But spend 30 minutes in his company and one would quickly realise that he was the gentlest of souls, alas, a quality he seldom if ever showed on the football field.

He was also known as Rocks Cronin. That may have been because of his physical strength and prowess on the football field, where he could be fierce.

He had many fine qualities, one of which was his ability to support and help those who were marginalised and forgotten.

Con had an impish sense of humour. He was loyal but enjoyed laughing at authority.

I can still remember the day of his funeral. From what I can recall, many tears were shed both during his funeral Mass in St Mary's Priory, Tallaght, and then later at the graveside.

Where would he be today but for that accident?