Tag Archives: Fionn O’Brien

A HEARTBROKEN Doora-Barefield mother-of-four has described her son, Fionn as a “talented young man and a well of endless potential”. Fionn O’Brien, (20), died following a tragic accident while he was surfing in Lough Donnell beach off the coast between Doonbeg and Quilty. In a heart-rending tribute at his Funeral Mass in the Church of Our Lady, Fahy Hall, Roslevan, on Thursday, his mother, Michelle recalled their son, Fionn arrived promptly into their lives and their contented baby grew into the smiling calm and assured young man they knew and loved. She told the congregation the O’Brien family are close knit. She said Fionn has been an integral part of their lives, they will miss his easy going nature, his playfulness, quiet confidence, the hard won hugs and that wonderful smile so readily given. “Fionn was a talented young man, a well of endless potential. His future life would have been shaped and reflected his competitiveness on the pitch, his …

THE tragic death of a young Doora-Barefield lifeguard while he was surfing off the West Clare coast has sent shock waves throughout the county. Glowing tributes have been paid from Clare lifeguards, Doora-Barefield GAA club, Ennis RFC and others who experienced a cloud of “devastating grief” following the passing of Fionn O’Brien, Knockanean, Tulla Road, Ennis, on Monday. Ennis Parish Priest, Fr Tom Ryan, recalled last Monday a cloud of “devastating grief” descended on the Doora-Barefield parish, the town of Ennis, communities throughout Clare and on many young people who knew or were part of Fionn’s life. “I have heard very kind and genuine words about Fionn over the last few days. He was a good young man, a swimmer, lifeguard, water enthusiast and an accomplished hurler and footballer with his beloved club St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield. “There are occasions in life when no words seem appropriate, when we enter total sadness and desolation. “We are numbed and speechless since news …

A HEARBROKEN Doora-Barefield mother-of-four has described her son, Fionn as a “talented young man and a well of endless potential”. Fionn O’Brien, (20), died following a tragic accident while he was surfing in Lough Donnell beach off the coast between Doonbeg and Quilty between 6.30am and 7am on Monday. It is understood that the former Rice College student got into some difficulty while he was in the water, his friends administered CPR and called the emergency services. Emergency services arrived and he was airlifted by the Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter R115 for emergency medical treatment to University Hospital Limerick (UHL). He was pronounced dead on Monday around lunch time. In a heart-rendering tribute at his Funeral Mass in the Church of Our Lady, Fahy Hall, Roslevan, on Thursday, his mother, Michelle recalled their son, Fionn arrived promptly into their lives and their contented baby grew into the smiling calm and assured young man they knew and loved. She told the congregation the …

A MINUTE’S silence was held at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District this week following the tragic death of young lifeguard Fionn O’Brien. Meanwhile, the chaplain of Fionn’s former secondary school in Ennis has offered its support to past and present students affected by the loss. The 20-year-old, who was from a well-known Ennis family and lived on the Tulla Road, died after getting into difficulty while surfing off Lough Donnell beach on Monday. Fionn has been remembered as a “wonderful, smiling and talented young man” by his former school Rice College. A statement issued on behalf of the school states, “The Staff and Board of Management of Rice College would like to extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to the O’Brien family on the tragic death of their beautiful son, our past pupil, Fionn. To Fionn’s parents, Pat and Michelle, and his siblings Niall, Conor and Saidhbh, you are in our thoughts and prayers at this most …