A training crash after slipping on an oil spill coming off a climb in Co Wicklow has claimed the life of former stage winner and yellow jersey in the Rás Dermot McGrath of Bray Wheelers (Photo with many thanks to Brendan Culleton)
The Irish cycling community has lost a well known and popular member following the passing of Dubliner Dermot McGrath after a training crash.
Dermot, a member of the Bray Wheelers club, was out training with a number of others in Co Wicklow last Tuesday week, November 4th.
He crashed descending Slaughter Hill, between Newtownmountkennedy and Roundwood, with one of the other riders he was with also falling.
While taken to hospital from the scene, he never recovered.
A statement from Bray Wheelers said Dermot had come off his bike due to a bad oil spill on the road.
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His condition was regarded as grave from the time of the crash, with Dermot placed on a respirator at St Vincent’s University Hospital, Elm Park, south Dublin.
A well known figure in the Irish Veteran Cyclists' Association (IVCA) and throughout the country in the height of his racing days, Dermot had suffered serious head injuries.
He died in hospital surrounded by his family in hospital on Thursday, nine days after crashing.
Aged 75-years, he is survived by his wife Emily and four children Orlaith, Aidan, Barbara and Eoin.
Dermot, front left in red helmet, in action in the IVCA races. He had long become one of the stalwarts of the vets' scene (Photo with thanks to Brendan Culleton)
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A well respected and very popular man, Dermot won a great stage in the Rás in the 1960s.
Riding for the Co Down team, he pulled clear in a breakaway on the opening stage of the 1962 edition into Longford.
He and six others, including future race director Dermot Dignam, battled a headwind from Kilcock where they first got clear.
They survived to contest the finish where Dermot won the stage in a sprint from team mate Dermot Monaghan.
With time bonuses gained along the route, he pulled on the yellow jersey and led the race by 30 seconds.
Dermot remained very active on the bike right up to the time of his death and had raced with the IVCA from the time he turned 40 years, some 3½ decades ago.
He won almost every honour in the IVCA and only last year won the Best All Rounder time trial age-related competition.
Dermot was aged just 23 years when he won his Rás stage and at the time was working as a technician in RTE.
He would stay with the State broadcaster, rising to the position of head of staff development.
Dermot’s burial takes place tomorrow, Monday. See details below.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis.
Death Notice
McGRATH (Cabinteely, Co. Dublin) – November 13th 2014 surrounded by his loving family at St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Elm Park following a tragic accident. Dermot J; beloved husband and devoted carer of his wife Emily (née O’Meara) and much loved father of Orlaith, Aidan, Barbara and Eoin, grandfather of Sarah, Emma and Anna. He will be sadly missed by his loving wife, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, partners and friends.
A special word of thanks to the staff at the Emergency and I.C.U. Departments at St. Vincent’s University Hospital. Removal this Monday morning to the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Churchview Road, Killiney arriving at 9 50am. Funeral immediately after 10am Requiem Mass to Shanganagh Cemetery, Shankill. Family flowers only please.
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