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We are saddened by the passing of Josef Veselsky, Holocaust survivor and the oldest man in Ireland, who died this week at the age of 107. Born into a Jewish family in what is today Slovakia, Josef Veselsky came of age as Europe descended into darkness. During the Holocaust, he joined the resistance and survived the war in the mountains, while suffering the devastating loss of close family members murdered in Auschwitz. His survival stands as a testament to extraordinary courage and moral strength in the face of unimaginable persecution. After the war, and later following the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia, Josef Veselsky rebuilt his life in Ireland, where he became a respected figure in sport and society. Through his long involvement in table tennis, he embodied dignity, perseverance and the unifying power of sport to restore purpose after trauma. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and to all who were touched by his remarkable life. May his memory be a blessing.