Man who died in a single-vehicle motorbike accident named locally

THE community of west Limerick is "heartbroken" and reeling with shock following the tragic passing of Jack O’Donoghue last Wednesday, described by friends as "one of the nicest fellows" you could meet.

Jack, aged 33, from Clounreask, Askeaton, died in a single-vehicle motorbike accident on the N69 at Clounreask last Wednesday evening, shortly before 8pm. It's believed Jack was looking forward to going on a short holiday with his girlfriend to Rome, Italy, tomorrow.

His friend, Cllr Tommy Hartigan has paid a moving tribute to him, saying, Jack was "probably one of the nicest fellows you could ever come across... I didn't know anyone who had a bad word to say about him."

Cllr Hartigan recalled Jack’s warmth and friendliness, saying he would chat with anyone whether he knew them or not and that everyone in the community knew him or his family. "With the personality that he had he was hard not to get on with."

The Independent Ireland councillor added that Jack would always make the effort to say hello no matter how busy he was. "I'd say he could have been in the middle of the most important conversation of his life and and if you walked past him, he'd take the time to say hello."

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Jack's great passion in life was motorbikes but as a proud Limerick man, he also had a love for Limerick hurling. His family are also very involved in the local community with both his parents holding positions on the local community council. His mother Mary is the treasurer of Askeaton-Ballysteen Community Council and his father Jimmy is the chairman. Jack was a qualified electrician. 

Jack is predeceased by his grandparents and uncle Tommy Greed.

Jack will be sadly missed and always loved by his heartbroken parents Mary and Jimmy, partner Jane Fitzgerald, brother James, sister Anne and her partner Pádraig Fahy, aunts, uncles, cousins and a very large circle of friends. 

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward following the road traffic collision.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N69 near Askeaton between 7.15pm and 8.15pm are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Newcastle West garda station on 069 20650, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.