*Sergeant Andrew O’Riordan.
BROADFORD was brought to a halt as huge numbers came out in force for the funeral of Sergeant Andrew O’Riordan.
Colleagues of Andrew with An Garda Síochána formed a large guard of honour at St Peter’s Church following Friday’s funeral mass. He was stationed in the Limerick Garda Division for some 20 years, most recently at Mayorstone Park.
Father of five, Andrew died tragically in a road traffic collision when he was a passenger that hit the distinctive oak tree in Broadford on Sunday July 26th.
Family, friendship and community had a great importance in his life and it his family, friends and community of Broadford, Kilbane and Kilmore that are feeling his losses the most.
Amélie O’Riordan, the eldest daughter of Andrew and Stéphanie told the funeral mass that they have been “overwhelmed” by the outpouring of support. “To see so many people gather here is a testament to the kind of man my daddy was and the lives he touched. Over the past few days, we have been overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity, and compassion shown to our family. During what has been the most difficult time of our lives, we have never felt alone.
“I think he would have been deeply touched to see everyone here today. He was someone who valued family, friendship, and community, and knowing that’s something he’d be very proud of is a great comfort. While we are all devastated that we aren’t with him here today, it is also a day to remember the love, laughter, and memories he gave us. We will carry those memories with us forever, and we will continue to honour him in the ways that he would have liked,” she said.
Superintendent John Flanagan noted that Andrew was born in the middle of a storm, “a sign that his life was going to be a great adventure”. He referenced how Andrew had an ability to fix anything and his own garden reflected his love of nature. “He took clippings from many a garden and planted his own. His gardens at home today are a testament to his love of plants and nature. He spent his childhood years in Tower near Blarney, where his friendly and energetic personality made him many friends who still remember him fondly today. Andrew’s father was the only Garda on the road where they lived, and then Andrew and others soon followed behind him into the Garda Síochána, a proud legacy and impact within the family and wider community”.
History and aviation were passions of Andrew’s which also demonstrated his intelligence. “He knew the name of every military plane under the sun and dreamt of becoming a fighter jet pilot. He liked to buy miniature plane kits for his children to assemble and paint and would take great pleasure in guiding them through the process. He was also talented at drawing and won art competitions, and his mum fondly remembers when Andrew was fifteen and how he proudly won a National Garda Credit art competition”.
A native of Blarney, Andrew attended “Farranferris secondary school on the north side of Cork City, and now wait for this— he actually captained the hurling team… But for those of us who are Gaelic fans among us who know him, this will come as a shock,” quipped Supt Flanagan.
According to Supt Flanagan, Sgt O’Riordan always commented that going to the University of Limerick was the best thing that happened and this was where he met Stéphanie, the love of his life. “Andrew and Stéphanie formed a lifelong partnership of love and went on to have five beautiful children. He was a very affectionate father, full of hugs and kisses, and he would say to his children every single day with a big smile, who loves you? And answer his own question by saying, Daddy loves you! This time last week, Andrew, Stéphanie, and the kids spent his last week in Owenahincha in West Cork, in his sister Joanne’s house overlooking the sea. He had such a wonderful time with them, full of fun and giggles”.
Days before his death, Andrew celebrated his twenty second wedding anniversary to Stéphanie on July 22nd. The couple got the chance to go on a nice walk on the beach, where Sgt O’Riordan said how happy he was to be married to her, and how happy he was to have his children, and how especially proud he was of them.
Fr Brendan Quinlivan told Friday’s mass, “To the representatives of all the communities which he policed and served, we share in your brokenness and your pain today, and we ask for God’s consolation and peace for all of you in a special way as we pray this Mass”.
Symbols brought before the altar included a sword to commemorate his time in the French Resistance, a photo of the whole family at the passing out parade in Lyon, one of Sgt O’Riordan’s beloved vases with roses on the inside, a trowel symbolising his love of design and building, his garda hat from a scholarship honour, representing his career spanning almost three decades and a model aeroplane that he made as a child, reflecting his passion for history and aviation.
“Andrew had already achieved the greatest ambitions in his life. He was a good son and brother, a loving husband to Stephanie, and a devoted father to Amélie, Steffen, Gabrielle, Jonathan, and Axel. He was a hard-working man who brought every ounce of his skill and his talent and his personal warmth to his vocation as a public servant, as a guardian of the peace but Andrew himself would admit that that was second only to his vocation as a husband and father. There is nothing he wouldn’t have done for his wife, his children, to help you to achieve your dreams,” Fr Quinlivan commented.
Sgt O’Riordan trained and studied at an advanced level with the French police force. He was part of an international group of police service people from all over the world, from Africa, from Latin America.
In 2023, Sgt O’Riordan graduated from Ecole Nationale Supérieure de la Police in France after a year of training, he was the first English speaker to complete the course. A year later he was deployed to the 2024 Paris Olympics to assist French authorities.
Sgt O’Riordan is deeply missed by his heartbroken family, loving wife Stéphanie, children Amélie, Steffen, Gabrielle, Jonathan and Axel, parents Patrick and Kathleen, sister Joanne and her husband David Kerr. Parents-in-law Jean-Claude Sachet and Marie-France Sachet, brother-in-law Ivan Sachet and his partner Hélena Rigal. Nieces and nephews Christopher, Alannah, Charlotte, Matthew, Léïla and Yaëlle, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, work colleagues in Mayorstone and Henry St, Garda Stations, neighbours and his many friends.
Sgt O’Riordan was buried in the church grounds of St Peter’s Church, Broadford.
