A daughter who was custodian of an extremely rare Waterford All-Ireland Hurling medal which belonged to her late father is pleading with thieves to return it after it was taken from her ransacked home last Friday.
The medal was awarded to Davy Power who was also known as Daithi de Paor, in 1948 when Waterford won the All-Ireland crown for the first time in their history, following a 6-7 to 4-2 defeat of Dublin in the final.
The late Mr de Paor played as a wing back and wing forward for the Waterford Senior All-Ireland hurling team.
His daughter Siún’s home in the Enniscorthy area of Co Wexford was ransacked when it was unoccupied between 4pm and 6.30pm last Friday.
Siún was the custodian of the medal for her other siblings Daithí, Ruaidhrí, Bláthnaid and Áine. Her home along with several other houses were also broken into over the same time period last Friday.
An emotional Siún explained: “I’ve shed a lot of tears since last Friday due to the huge sentimentality of the medal not only for me but for all of my family. It’s the entire family's connection to his and our GAA history which he was so passionate about, is what makes the theft of the medal so upsetting.
“I normally wear the medal on a gold link chain but last Friday I obviously wasn’t wearing it. I normally bring it along to all the GAA matches any of the family are involved in or we go to. I’m really pleading with whomever took it to have a conscience and return the medal. No questions will be asked.”
Siún revealed that other gold jewellery was taken, “and that’s not alright but if I could just get my father’s medal back it would mean so, so much. We believe that gold was the target for the thieves. We all have gotten a terrible shock from what has happened.
“I’m really appealing to members of the public to keep a watch out for the medal or any jewellers, or auction houses to be mindful of this medal if they come in contact with anyone who might offer it to them. We really want the public to share the photo of the medal far and wide if they wouldn’t mind,” she added.
Siún’s father passed away in 1986 and played for Mount Sion in Waterford, was born in Portlaw and was a County Board official for 30 years.
Waterford last captured the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 1959, when they defeated Kilkenny by 3-12 to 1-10 after a replay.
Waterford have been crowned All-Ireland Senior Hurling champions just twice in the history of the competition.
Gardai have said they are aware of a number of burglaries in the Enniscorthy, Co Wexford area last Friday afternoon and are continuing their investigations.
