A 16-year-old cyclist who died in a crash in Co Waterford has been named as Shane O’Brien, who had represented Ireland on the international stage.
Gardaí said the fatal crash was under investigation, describing it as a collision that “involved a parked lorry and a pedal cyclist”. The lorry driver was present at the scene and was not injured, the Garda statement added.
The crash occurred on the N72 road at Ballygalane, just outside Lismore, shortly after 11am on Tuesday. O’Brien was training at the time as he prepared for the National Road Championships in Co Mayo next week.
O’Brien, Bettyville, Clondulane, Fermoy, was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was removed to University Hospital Waterford, where a postmortem was due to take place.
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Cycling Ireland said O’Brien, formerly of Fermoy Cycling Club and more recently with CAMS Majaco was “well known and loved” in the cycling community.
“He recently made his national team debut at Course de la Paix in the Czech Republic and had shown great promise as an emerging talent.
“Shane will be missed dearly by all in the cycling community in Ireland. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and teammates at this time of tragic loss. May he rest in peace.”
For the 2026 road racing season, which is underway at present, Shane had been signed by the British CAMS Majaco junior team, which is linked to the Netcompany Ineos professional team.
CAMS Majaco, with whom Shane had already raced in Belgium, France and Britain this year, said it had heard of his death with “immense sadness”.
“Shane was a talented rider who had a bright future ahead of him, and was a kind-hearted, gentle and positive young man,” the British junior team said in a statement.
“We were honoured to have him as a member of the team and he will be forever in our hearts. Our thoughts at this devastating time are with his family, friends, teammates and all who were lucky enough to know him.”
Former Mayor of Cork, Councillor Frank O’Flynn said the thoughts of the community are with the family and friends of the deceased at this sad time.
“Everyone is shocked by this appalling tragedy and our hearts go out to his family, classmates, neighbours and friends,” he said.
“His family are very highly respected in the greater Fermoy area and I know that they have very proud sporting connections. Shane had a very bright sporting future ahead of him.”
Shane’s older brother, Liam O’Brien, is a professional rider with the Lidl Trek Racing Future team. He was riding the U23 Giro d’Italia this week before leaving the race on Tuesday evening to return home to Cork after learning of his brother’s death.
Liam O’Brien (21) is one of the best cyclists in the world at present on the U23 scene and has represented Ireland multiple times, including at the Europeans and World Championships.
His brother Shane, a student at St Colman’s College, Fermoy, who was the youngest of three siblings, was hoping to follow in his footsteps. He had enjoyed a breakthrough in May when selected for his first Irish junior team.
In the 16-year-old’s death notice, the O’Brien family were described as “heartbroken” at his sudden death, which they said happened in “a tragic accident”. The deceased teenager is survived by his parents, Eddie and Mary, and older brothers Liam and Aidan.
Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses, including those with dash cam footage, who may have been travelling on the N72 between Lismore and Cappoquin between 10.30am and 11.15am on Tuesday.
The incident brings to 80 the number of people killed on the State’s road so far this year, up from 73 in the same period last year.
