*Fionn O’Brien in action for the St Josephs Doora/Barefield intermediate hurlers last year. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
A young Clare surfer who died on Monday has been named locally as Fionn O’Brien.
Fionn died on Monday after what members of the Clare division of An Garda Síochána described as a tragic accident.
He was surfing at Lough Donnell in Quilty when an alarm was raised shortly after 8am. The Shannon based helicopter R115 transferred him to University Hospital Limerick with CPR administered at the scene and also as he was airlifted to hospital. He was sadly pronounced dead at UHL.
From the Tulla Rd, Fionn was a lifeguard with Clare County Council and played both hurling and football with St Josephs Doora/Barefield. The twenty year old was regarded as a warm and popular young man.
As a mark of respect all club activity within the GAA club was cancelled on Monday evening “due to very tragic circumstances”.
Heartfelt sympathies were expressed by Rice College where Fionn attended secondary school. “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 difficult time”.
“We remember Fionn as a wonderful, smiling and talented young man and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him”.
