Cyclist victim of road tragedy had strong Mayo connections

The funeral will take place on Thursday of John O’Malley, a married father of two, who died on Sunday in an accident which occurred while he was participating in a leisure cycle in Connemara.

Mr. O’Malley, who lived at Annaghdown, Co, Galway, worked as procurement manager with the Galway Clinic.

He was originally from Carrowniskey, Louisburgh, having left that area in the 1990s.

Mr. O’Malley died at the scene near Cornamona in the early afternoon on Sunday after what gardai describe as “a fatal road collision between a car and a cyclist."

The deceased, a regular leisure cyclist, was taking part in what is known as the Cunga (Cong) RAM Event, on the R345 near Cornamona.

Participants in the cycle, which started in Cong, had two distances to choose from – 55 km and 110 km.

Mr. O’Malley died at the scene of the impact despite medical assistance.

A post mortem has been conducted and a coroners’ hearing will be held at a later date.

Cunga Cycling Club has expressed its deepest sympathy with the family of the deceased.

"As with any serious incident or accident the club are now working with the gardaí to establish precisely what happened on this occasion," the Club said in a statement.

Relatives, friends and neighbours have been sympathising with Mr. O’Malley’s wife, Mary, and daughters, Fiona and Caitriona, since news of the tragedy emerged.

The deceased is also survived by his parents, James and Nora, brothers Tony, Seamus, Eamonn and Dermot, his sister, Catherine, as well as other relatives, to whom sympathy is tendered.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Brendan’s Church, Annaghdown, at 12 noon on Thursday followed by burial in Cregg Cemetery.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.