David Cassidy at the start of the 2011 Rás Tailteann with nephew Mark, then riding for the An Post-Sean Kelly team.
Irish cycling is in mourning after the sad passing of David Cassidy; racing cyclist and bike shop owner.
David, a 54-year-old father of two, was a member of the well known Cassidy cycling family from Co Meath.
His brother Philip is a double Rás winner and Olympian. And David’s nephew, Mark Cassidy, is a former member of the An Post-Sean Kelly pro team.
News of David’s passing has been greeted with shock and sadness across the cycling community.
He had raced in the 1980s, riding the Rás several times and also competing successfully in the US where he lived for a period.
David then came back to road racing again for a number of seasons in more recent years.
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Riding on the Stevens Cyclelogical team in 2011 David rode the Gorey Three Day and won the final yellow jersey.
In was a win, taken in his veteran years, which served as a reminder of his talent as a bike rider.
He made the winning six-man breakaway on the opening stage, won by Michael Barry (Barnardos).
David then took yellow in the TT the following morning and held it for the next two stages.
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The Brothers Cassidy: David and Philip in the early years and in the colours of Navan Road Club at home in Clonee.
David keeping a close eye on nephew Mark racing in Co Kildare seven years ago.
During that same 2011 season David also rode and finished the Rás Tailteann, again with a Stevens Cyclelogical team.
His team mates on that particular race around Ireland included Adrian Headerman, Patrick Fitzpatrick and William McCabe.
While he had a lifelong association with and involvement in cycling many cyclists from the road racing scene will perhaps remember him best for his Gorey win as it is most recent.
David also owned and ran the Cyclelogical bike shop on Dublin’s Bachelor’s Walk in the heart of the city.
His brother Philip has been synonymous with the Cycleways shop on Parnell Square, also in Dublin’s north inner city.
Philip’s partner in the shop when it began, Brian Connaughton, was instrumental in mentoring the Cassidy brothers during their early racing days.
Some of us here at stickybottle know the Cassidy family well and we’re sure we echo the sentiments of everybody in the racing community when we say our thoughts are with them at this very sad time.
We are especially thinking of David’s partner Elaine and children Molly and Ben, as well as his mam and dad, Yvette and Paddy.
David will be reposing at his home on Charleville Road, Phibsboro, Dublin 7, today, Wednesday, between 5pm and 7pm.
The funeral service takes place at 2.30pm on Thursday in Glasnevin Crematorium, Dublin.
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