It is with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of the IVCA (Irish Veteran Cycling Association) Honorary President and friend in cycling Donal O'Connell, who died on Tuesday, 26th January after a long period of illness.
Donal O'Connell was surely the "grand-old-man" of Irish cycling. It was in the colours of Dublin Wheelers, the club he served for a lifetime, that he won many classics and set several national place-to-place records in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Within the same time span he achieved international status and was included in Irish teams at World Championships and Isle of Man Grand Prixs.
Retiring from top class competition in 1953, he continued to serve the sport he loved in many capacities for the next 60 years. He served on the national executive of CRE and later the ICF during which time he travelled abroad as manager/ masseur/ mechanic ( sometimes all three at same time) to the international squad.
He was a founder member of the Irish Veterans Cycling Association and eventually took over the reins of the"vets" in 1982 . Though nominally the general secretary, Donal took responsibility for almost everything - the Association virtually revolved around him.
He was one of the small group who on a winter ramble came up with the concept of a non-competetive bike event - the original (and still the trendsetter) Irish sportive - the Wicklow 200.
Ever present at IVCA races - if he was missing it was because he was travelling the world with his beloved wife Lily. It was only when he became ill in 2013 that he ceased to be "the man" on Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings.
He will be sadly missed but never forgotten by the many, many friends and colleagues that he encountered over a long and satisfying life.