Riding for Dublin in the 1958 Rás, Cathal O'Raghallaigh is flanked by Eamon Ryan (Kildare) and Gene Mangan (Kerry). The latter had just won the sixth stage into Castlebar with O'Raghallaigh having to settle for third. It was the same position he ended up on GC at the end of the week, behind winner Mick Murphy and Ben McKenna.
By Brian Canty
The Irish cycling community is in mourning following the passing of former Irish national road race champion and Rás stage winner Cathal O'Raghallaigh.
From the Four Masters club in Donegal, he passed away after a recent illness and was laid to rest at the weekend in Clar cemetery in Donegal Town.
He was a classy rider in his day and always had a huge passion for the sport, winning the country’s biggest one-day event back in 1958.
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He also won a stage of the Rás, known as the Mick Murphy stage, from Kilkenny to Clonakilty which was a whopping 190 kilometres.
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Rás Dhun na nGall has become a great race and Cathal O'Raghallaigh is among those we have to thank for it (Photo: Marian Lamb)
In his working life he was a well-respected accountant who was employed by Artic Fishing in Killybegs, where he spent much of his life.
After retiring from the sport some years later he still remained heavily involved in local matters and it was he who started the Four Masters club in 1987.
Under his guidance and stewardship the club participated in many of the biggest events on the domestic calendar and produced some top quality riders, the most famous of which is Philip Deignan of Team Sky.
A few short years after starting the club he put them on the map even more with the first Rás Dhun na nGall, a race that is regarded as one of the hardest multi-day events on the calendar.
He served as race director and in more recent years drove the lead car in the event that has been based around Killybegs .
Last year, he was present when the club celebrated their 25th anniversary and it was largely down to his work that the club is one of the most highly-regarded in the country.
Nowadays, they boast a thriving membership and cater for all levels of cyclist and that was something that made him immensely proud, far more so than any achievements or accolades by any one individual.
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