Irish cyclists gathering to ride for one of our own taken too far soon
Four great lads: Tragic Eamon with his three boys.
When keen cyclist Eamon McClean died suddenly 12 months ago, the colours of the Omagh Wheelers club lined the route at his funeral.
But, as all who knew him with testify, Eamon’s reach into the lives of young people in the North went far, far beyond the cycling world.
Eamon was a rare bread; a dedicated father who also worked tirelessly to bring together children from the protestant and catholic communities in the North.
And he did that invaluable work, dating back to that period when the security and peace in the North were not as stable as they are at present.
When Eamon was a very young boy his father was interned; detained without trial.
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However, rather than having his father taken from him in that way creating bitterness, it turned him towards a life of improving understanding between the divide parts of the North.
Through the Speedwell Trust at Parkanur near Dungannon in Co Tyrone, Eamon brought together generations of catholic and protestant children. The kids worked side by side on educational and environmental projects.
And at times their parents joined those projects.
He had worked as a school teacher in Australia and New Zealand and also in a number of schools in the North before the Speedwell project became his life’s work.
He died suddenly at the aged of just 50 years this time last year, leaving everyone who knew him devastated but also a legacy that will endure.
An Omagh Wheelers man, at the time of his sad passing – of heart failure while at work - he had been training for the Malin to Mizen event.
Eamon was married to Róisín and had three boys – Tiernan, Leon and Eunan.
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This weekend cyclists and others who knew Eamon and were touched by his work are gathering to remember one of our own.
The event takes place on Saturday. Unsurprisingly it will raise much need funds for the Speedwell Project.
And like much of Eamon’s life it has a cross-community theme; Cyclists Connecting Communities.
Cyclists are coming together from various clubs to cycle either a 30 or 60 mile distance. Runners and walkers will also be represented on the day with a 5k fun run and cycle.
Eamon McClean was passionate about bringing people together hence the event name Eamon’s Get Together.
The day will be based in Arvalee School in the new Shared Educational Campus on the Gortin Road in Omagh, Co Tyrone.
There will be family entertainment throughout the day including bouncy castles and bubble football. There will also be inflatable dartboard, soccer fun, science shows, art workshops, balloon makers and face painting.
Live music will be put on and a drumming workshop as well as refreshments and BBQ.
Could you donate a few quid via the link below?
If you can make it along why not make the event your Saturday morning spin this weekend?
And if you can’t go you might think of donating to this great event; to keep alive a brilliant legacy left by Eamon McClean.
To register, donate or for more information please follow this link.
You can also access the event's Facebook page by following this link. And the Twitter account can be accessed by clicking right here.
Eamon in his Omagh Wheelers kit; he was cycling right up to the time of his sudden passing.
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