The early days: Jason photographed - among bikes as usual - in McQuaid Cycles, Dublin, where his enduring love affair with cycling began. It would last for decades.
Death sadly takes place of cycling figure Jason Callaly
The death has taken place of Jason Callaly, a well known figure in Irish and international cycling.
Jason was synonymous with the Dublin club Emerald CC and the Emmelle Team. He travelled with the teams around the country and abroad for many years and also rode himself in his younger days.
During the course of his involvement with that chapter of Irish cycling he became close to the McQuaid family; cutting his mechanic’s teeth at the McQuaid Cycles shop in Glasnevin, north Dublin.
That was to prove the beginnings of a love affair with cycling that never waned.
Jason had been ill for some time with an underlying condition. His health had deteriorated in recent weeks leading to a hospital stay.
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Sadly Jason died last evening in hospital. He is survived by wife Grainne and young son Stone.
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Top, with the Emmelle Irish cycling team. Middle, with son Stone and Stephen Roche. Bottom, as teenager getting ready for another race with the Fosters Emerald CC (Thanks to Darach McQuaid for the photographs)
While he had been involved in Irish cycling in a support capacity during the 1990s, he quickly graduated into the international scene.
He began on the retail team at international bike races with Winning Magazine. After gaining an introduction to pro racing through the magazine moved up the ladder.
Jason progressed on to more significant roles down years with major events; many in the US and Asia. Jason worked as part of the promotion team of Tours of Malaysia and Phillipines in Asia, Tour of California, Tour of Utah and Tour of Colorado.
After his family, cycling was his life’s passion. As well as working on the organisation teams of major pro races he also took on a variety of roles, from mechanic to security.
Once the job was on a bike race, Jason had tried his hand to it down the years.
We will have more to come on Jason’s life. But for now all of us at stickybottle would like to extend our sympathies to Grainne and Stone and the rest of Jason’s family and to his many friends in cycling at home and abroad.
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