The cycling community gathered yesterday to say goodbye to a true son of Irish cycling, Frank Gibson.
A stalwart of the home scene, and long associated with
Irish Road Club, Frank sadly died just over a week ago after a short illness.
News of his death emerged just before the Gorey Three Day
at the Easter weekend; a race he helped to run for many years.
Frank was one among a small tight knit group that has had
a hand in organising races all over the country for decades.
And he was best known in recent years for operating the photo finish camera at the end of events; a vital role that kept everyone honest and which he always did with good cheer.
Not only did he operate the camera at Irish events but had also traveled by invitation to South Africa and Malaysia to do the same job at major races in both country.
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At Frank’s funeral service in Mount Jerome, south Dublin, on Saturday a fitting guard of honour was formed by many of those who, like Frank, have played a big part keeping racing on the road.
Among them were Cycling Ireland commissaries and those who provide escorts for races; members of the Garda Roads Policing Unit and the CAMMI motorbike escorts group.
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In total there were seven CAMMI bikes, four roads policing motorbike gardai and 16 commissaires all paying tribute; with the service packed to capacity.
Another well known figure on the Irish road racing scene, and a friend of Frank's from the Irish Road Club, Harry Sherratt, praised his deceased friend's aproach to helping out.
He said when Frank's children began cycling, rather than viewing the sport as something organised by others, Frank instinctively jumped in and helped out in every way that he could.
And his love for racing, and the social atmosphere around the sport, led to his involvement in cycling for decades, during which time he made so many friends.
Cycling, and especially the Junior Tour of Ireland, was such a big part of Frank’s life that his family asked for donations for the junior stage rather than flowers at his funeral.
The funds will go to the Junior Tour Trust. It was set up a number of years ago to save the race when it hit financial problems that threatened its future.
If you’d like to donate to the race in memory of Frank you can do so by following this link.
It was really nice touch by Frank’s family and we thank them for it and extend our condolences to them at this very sad time.
Frank is survived by his partner Kate and children Jonathan, Caitríona and Francis and we especially think of them.
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