Duleek shocked by tragic death of local soccer player in Italy

The remains of the young Duleek AFC footballer who was fatally injured in a road accident near Pisa, Italy, are expected to be repatriated to Ireland in preparation for his funeral later this week. Father-of-two Christopher (Chris) Dowd, who was from Drogheda, was critically injured in a motorcycle accident last Thursday week on the second day of his family holiday. He was initially taken to a hospital near Pisa but later transferred to a hospital specialising in head injuries and remained in a critical condition there until last Friday, when he passed away. Mr Dowd (33) and his wife and two children, along with his brother-in-law and his wife, who is Italian, had travelled to Italy from Dublin last Wednesday week. He is believed to have been on a moped when it struck an embankment and he was thrown off. Mr Dowd's brother, Brian, returned to Ireland last week with the dead man's two children, Amy and Niamh. Mr Dowd's wife, Siobhan, remained by her husband's bedside. Following his death on Friday, prayers were said for his family at the Holy Family Church in Drogheda. The dead man had been educated at Congress Avenue National School in Drogheda before going on to St Oliver's Community School. He then went into the family engineering firm, where he served his time. He married Duleek woman Siobhan Kavanagh and the couple and their children lived in Drogheda. Mr Dowd was heavily involved with Duleek AFC for a long number of of years. The official opening of the Duleek AFC clubhouse extension, car parking and all-weather pitch, which was due to be held last Sunday, was cancelled as a mark of respect. Club official Pat O'Brien said that the entire club remained shocked and upset by Chris's untimely and tragic death. "He had been playing football with us from he was about 18 years-old, for 14-15 years, and was a first team player," said Mr O'Brien. "To say that he will be a huge loss to the club is an understatement. He was actually down training with the club on the night before he left for his holiday - you can't get more dedicated than that. Many another one would slip off for the holiday, but not Chris. He had all the right attributes for a club like ours. He was totally committed, totally dedicated. We are all very upset about Chris's death and we extend our deepesy sympathy to his grieving family," he added.