Limerick coach and popular chef dies climbing Kilimanjaro
OVER €38,000 has been raised to repatriate a much-loved chef and soccer coach - who died while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro - to his family in Limerick and Cork.
James O’Connor died from a heart attack just a few hundred feet from the summit of the mountain on his 40th birthday.
Mr O’Connor, who passed away on Tuesday, December 5 was remembered in a post on X by Limerick underage soccer club, Regional United AFC.
“Awful news this week as James O'Connor, one of our underage coaches, sadly passed away climbing Mount Kilimanjaro,” the club said.
“James's family are trying to bring him home. All donations to this cause would be greatly appreciated. May he rest in peace,” they added.
Tributes have also been paid to the father-of-three by Fine Gael councillor, Daniel Butler, whose son played soccer alongside Mr O’Connor’s son at Regional United.
Cllr Butler was one of many to encourage donations to a GoFundMe to help bring home the popular chef at Tony's Bistro, run by the O'Connor family on North Main Street, Cork.
“We are trying our best to bring James home as fast as possible to his loving family and friends,” the GoFundMe said.
Set up to reach €30,000, the fundraiser had raised over €38,424, at the time of print on Tuesday afternoon, with people from both Limerick and Cork contributing.
“We never thought we would find ourselves writing something like this and seeking the much-needed help from our friends and community, but we need to bring James home to his loving family in Limerick and Cork,” the GoFundMe added.