Tributes paid to well-known lifeguard

A “PHENOMENAL club man” and a “father figure” to young life guards throughout the county are just some of the tributes being paid to Ennis man Sean O’Sullivan, who tragically died at the weekend.

 

The experienced lifeguard and diving instructor, from Golf Links Road, lost his life after he got into difficulty, while swimming at White Strand, Miltown Malbay, on Friday. The lifeguard on duty took Mr O’Sullivan from the water after being alerted by a boat and attempted to resuscitate him on the beach.

Doolin coastguard, the Shannon coastguard helicopter and HSE advanced paramedics were called to the scene where they desperately tried to save Mr O’Sullivan’s life. Other lifeguards also came to assist. Mr O’Sullivan was rushed by helicopter to University Hospital Galway where he was later pronounced dead.

There were emotional scenes at a packed Ennis Cathedral on Tuesday for the father of four’s funeral mass. Fr Damien Nolan spoke of his care and said his love of the people was evident.
Fr Nolan described how there was a special place in Mr O’Sullivan’s life for water and the sea. He spoke of how Mr O’Sullivan had opened up his life to help others and that he was tireless in his efforts to harness the hidden talents of many people.

Mr O’Sullivan was a very experienced swimmer and a former lifeguard for Clare County Council. He worked as a lifeguard on the four main beaches of the county and was also a member of Ennis Sub-Aqua Club acting as an instructor and assisting in search and recovery operations.

Two of his sons are also lifeguards as well as his nephew, while his other sons are former lifeguards. His niece is a lifeguard with Kerry County Council. Clare Water Safety Development officer Liam Griffin described the loss of Mr O’Sullivan as “very sad”. “He was a father figure to a lot of the lifeguards. He was an absolutely lovely fella, you couldn’t meet nicer. He would also be helpful in any way he could. This is a huge loss,” he said.

John Staunton of Ennis Sub-Aqua Club paid tribute to Mr O’Sullivan saying, “He was involved with the club for more than 15 years and in that time, he instructed a huge number of people. He would have been very much to the fore when it came to search and recovery. He was a phenomenal club man, a stalwart of the club. He will be hugely missed by the diving community of Ireland. He loved bringing people on their first couple of dives. This is a huge loss to the club but also to the community.”

Mr O’Sullivan was also deeply involved in Clare Community Games and was vice-chairman in 1998 and 1999. According to a spokesperson for Clare Community Games, “Clare Community Games were shocked and saddened at the sudden death of Sean O’Sullivan on Friday last. Sean was vice-chairman of Clare Community Games in 1998 and 1999.  He was very actively involved in all aspects of the games both at area and county level. Sean won a silver medal for judo at the national finals in Mosney in 1974. Sean is the son of John and Cecilia, president and vice-president of Clare Community Games. We extend our sympathy and prayers to all the O’Sullivan family and extended family.”

Mr O’Sullivan is pre-deceased by his sister, Rose. He is survived by wife, Helen; sons, Cian, Eoin, Cormac and Donnchadh; father John; mother, Cecilia; brother, sisters, other relatives and friends.