'A lovely, gentle soul' - Tributes paid to Irish cyclist following tragic death in Pyrenees

Tributes have flooded in following the tragic death of a Dublin cyclist in France last week.

Niall Kieran (29), from Churchtown in south Dublin, was out cycling with his father Gerry in the Pyrenees when he reportedly left the road and went over a parapet, falling into a deep ravine.

Despite their best efforts, emergency services – which included a mountain emergency doctor and firefighters – were unable to resuscitate Niall.

Niall, who worked in the Oireachtas, was a long-time member of both Cycling Ireland and the Orwell Wheelers cycling club, which is based in Dundrum in south Dublin.

Mourners gathered at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Churchtown in Dublin for his funeral Mass today, and to pay their respects to his heartbroken parents Gerry and Louise, brother Conor, and his sister Sinéad.

"Everything changed last week for our family,” Gerry Kieran, Niall’s father told those in attendance.

Speaking of his son’s life, he said his passion was cycling but he also had other interests, which were represented in multiple gifts brought to the alter.

Cycling Ireland chief executive officer James Quilligan extended his sympathies to the Kieran family in a statement, expressing “deep sorrow” at Mr Kieran’s death.

“On behalf of Cycling Ireland and the wider cycling community, we would like to express our condolences to Niall’s family and friends,” he said in a statement.

“Niall and his father Gerry were cycling in France. Those who knew Niall would be aware that he was so looking forward to this trip with his dad. Niall loved every aspect of cycling – weekend spins, racing and the social side. He was well known and loved throughout the club.

“Niall will be sorely missed by all those in the club who knew him. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences especially go out to Gerry.

“The club extends its deepest sympathies to all the extended Kieran family at this sad time.”

A spokesperson from the Houses of the Oireachtas Service said: “The Houses of the Oireachtas Service is profoundly saddened and shocked to hear of Niall’s untimely and unexpected death.

“We extend our sincere sympathy to his family and to his many friends and colleagues in Leinster House.”

Another condolence from a fellow member of Orwell Wheelers cycling club described Niall as a "lovely, gentle soul who was always ready to drop me and everyone else the second the road veered upwards, laughing as he went. He will be sadly missed."

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