An Irish couple died when their van crashed last weekend near Maquoketa in Iowa. Their three children were injured in the accident.

Joe O’Connell, 50, originally from Causeway in Kerry, and his wife Ann, a native of Abbeyknockmoy in County Galway, lived in Madison Wisconsin with their family.

The couple was well-known in GAA circles in Ireland. Joe played hurling for Kerry, winning an All-Ireland B medal in 1983, while Ann (nee Coleman) represented Galway in camogie and won a junior All-Ireland medal in 1998. She also won a couple of All-Ireland club championship medals with Glen Rovers of Cork.

The father of the family was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, while Mrs.O’Connell passed away at the University Hospital in Iowa City

It is believed that the family was heading on vacation at the time of the tragedy. The youngest of the children is said to be in critical condition, while the other two were treated for non-life threatening injuries.