It deeply saddens us to report the sudden passing of our beautiful friend and clubmate, Patrick O'Brien, yesterday afternoon.
Pat was not just a talent on the bike, but an ever-giving and constantly positive presence off it. Winner of the 2014 Orwell League, a man of the Rás and a manager of the Rás, he was always ready to help out and assist, to give his time, knowledge and encouragement to others, and he will be very much missed by all of us.
Our condolences to his friends and family at this difficult time, particularly his fiancé Eileen. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
The death has occurred of Patrick O'BRIEN
12 Slaney View Park, Enniscorthy, Wexford / Crumlin, Dublin
(Suddenly) Beloved son of Paddy and Liz, fiancee of Eileen and brother of Barry, Carol, Lisa and Miriam.
Sadly missed by his heartbroken family, extended family, relatives and friends. May he rest in peace.
Reposing at 12 Slaney View Park with Removal on Wednesday at 6.30 to St. Senan's Parish Church, Enniscorthy.
Funeral Mass on Thursday at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in St. Mary's Cemetery.
https://rip.ie/showdn.php?dn=267911/PatrickO_BRIEN/Crumlin/Dublin
I rode all morning towards the sun up Cruagh to the Featherbeds past Kippure, over the Gap towards Laragh so little traffic, the heather turning purple in the autumn light, the hill before me like a rough beast somewhere in the distance is Lough Dan below me Lough Tey, it’s wild to have the wind rush through me like this as if I am a parchment too full of illegible script and each pedal stroke each breath erases all the garbled speech and word-horde from my body washes it out clean and clean out down then fast towards Djouce, Luggala to the East a waterfall smoking heavenward fantastical route, divine transport this then is where I am away from the city weaving my way through the ancient woods where the mystic waters flow keep on the wind cries go deep the stones call out even as the light changes and the sky darkens even as the clouds converge and the rain threatens the soul remains unrepentant keep on, it cries and the blood from my heart pulses through my body ever strongly even as time passes ever so and when the road dips and you find yourself on a pathway leading somewhere you have never been do not be afraid go there friend for the road will lead you where you need to go and your guide will be all the forgotten words of childhood all the poems and promises of adolescence all the letters torn together in parting watch them scattering in the wind like confetti like dust watch them float away like the breath which leaves me now and which carries your name don’t doubt it branch and root down to the last syllable of your being Paul Perry
In the Dublin Fire Brigade CC colours.
Man of the An Post Rás 2012
Winning the Slaney CC Mount Leinster Challenge KOM in 2014
Racing against Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) at the National Champs in Multyfarnham, 2014
Manager of the Orwell Rás Team, 2015
Before setting out on the Raid Pyrénéen in September 2015
After completing the Raid Pyrénéen with a gang of Orwell
On the morning of his passing, at the Keith Harte fundraiser in Laragh