Wednesday, 19th August, 2009

Irelands Paul Healion Takes Stage Six Of The FBD Insurance Rás In Castlebar

Seven times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has joined the tributes to Meath cyclist Paul Healion, who died in a road crash at the weekend.

The Irish sporting world is in mourning following the death on Sunday night of Mr Healion, one of the country's leading international amateur cyclists, who lived in Kilmessan.

Originally from Dunboyne, 31-year-old Mr Healion was killed in a single vehicle crash at around 10.25pm on Sunday night at Glack, near Ardee, on the Drumconrath Road. His car burst into flames after it hit a tree. The Minister for Sport, Martin Cullen, this week led the tributes from Government and sporting organisations.

Mr Healion was due to take part in the Tour of Ireland which begins on Friday, as a member of the seven-man Irish team. He will not be replaced on the team and a minute's silence will be observed in his memory on the opening day of the race.

Lance Armstrong is also due to participate in the Tour, and on his Twitter site yesterday (Tuesday) wrote: "It was very sad to hear the news of Irish cyclist Paul Healion, who passed away yesterday. Was due to race the Tour of Ireland with us. May he rest in peace."

The Meath cyclist was enjoying a purple patch in his career and this year was one of only two Irishmen to win stages in the FBD Rás this year. On Sunday, he had competed in the Brendan Campbell Memorial Race in Donore.

Murphy & Gunn Professional Paul Healion

Clonee cyclist Philip Cassidy, twice winner of the Rás Tailteann, expressed his sympathy to the family of Mr Healion, whom he said had produced a tremendous performance in the Rás this year.

Phil Cassidy recalled the last time he won the Rás, in 1999, that Paul Healion won the Ben McKenna Memorial Award for leading under-23 rider, and he had assisted the young cyclist on a number of occasions when Mr Healion had sought advice from him.

The Irish cycling team manager and coach Tommy Evans said that Mr Healion's death was a big tragedy and a huge loss to the team and Ireland as a nation. He had worked for a long time to get to the stage he had, and was totally devoted and focused on his cycling. His aim was to make the 2012 Olympics in London, added Mr Evans, who expressed sympathy to Mr Healion's wife, Anne.

Riding for South Dublin Cycling Club, Mr Healion had competed on the Irish team in the FBD Insurance Rás in May and took victory in a bunch sprint at the end of the 159km stage six into Castlebar, Co Mayo, beating multiple Tour de France stage winner Jaan Kirsipu of Estonia into second place.

The popular competitor followed up that win four weeks later with victory in the national championships criterium, a short, fast event held on tight urban circuits. Mr Healion had won five national titles, including two in the criterium, one in the pursuit event on the track and two in road time trials.

He was one of the best cyclists in the country for the past decade and had taken a string of victories in major domestic events including the Tour of Ulster and Kerry's Rás Mumhan, both stage races. He was a member of the Irish track pursuit team that narrowly failed to qualify for this year's world track championships in Poland. He had competed for Ireland in world cup track events both as part of the 4km team pursuit and in the 1km individual event.

On Sunday in Donore, he had finished sixth in the Brendan Campbell Memorial Cup. Two years ago, he won the Collins-Christle Memorial Race in Kilmessan, where he was to move to live in Bective Lodge with his wife, Anne.

Paul Healion

His remains are reposing at the residence of his brother-in-law, Michael King, at Loughter Hill, Rathcore, Enfield, and will be removed at 10am tomorrow (Thursday) morning to the Church of St Peter and Paul, Dunboyne, for the funeral Mass at 11am, which will be followed by burial in Rooske Road cemetery. Predeceased by his father, he is survived in addition to his wife by his mother, Mary; family and other relatives.

Minister Martin Cullen expressed is sadness on the death of Mr Healion, saying: "His untimely, sudden death in a week when everyone was looking forward to his performance in the opening stages of the Tour of Ireland makes it all the more poignant and difficult to come to terms with.

"Paul quite rightly would have had great expectations for this weekend's cycling as he was certainly enjoying his best season to date. His passing will be mourned not only by his family, team mates and friends, but also by the wider cycling fraternity."

The Irish Sports Council, which had grant-funded to the cyclist, said it was very sorry to hear of his untimely death, and expressed its sympathies to Mr Healion's family at this sad time.

 Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.