Tributes have been paid to a young Dublin man who has died while on a cycling trip in the French Pyrenees.
Niall Kieran (29) was cycling in the mountainous area on Sunday, alongside his father, when his bicycle left the road.
According to French reports, Mr Kieran was cycling in the Luz-Saint-Sauveur valley when the fatal fall occurred. Emergency services attended the scene, but he was pronounced dead.
Mr Kieran was, along with his father Gerry, a long-time member of the Orwell Wheelers cycling club, based in Dundrum, south Dublin as well as Cycling Ireland.
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It is understood the father and son had gone on a cycling holiday to France to coincide with the Tour de France, which finished on Sunday.
Mr Kieran had taken part in competitive cycling at club level since he was a teenager.
In a statement, Orwell Wheelers president Joe Fitzpatrick said: “It is with deep sorrow that we have to share the news of the tragic passing of clubmate Niall Kieran in a cycling accident last weekend.
“Niall and his father Gerry were cycling in France. Those who knew Niall would be aware that he was so looking forward to this trip with his dad. Niall loved every aspect of cycling – weekend spins, racing and the social side. He was well known and loved throughout the club. Niall will be sorely missed by all those in the club who knew him.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences especially go out to Gerry. The club extends its deepest sympathies to all the extended Kieran family at this sad time.”
James Quilligan, chief executive of Cycling Ireland, said: “On behalf of Cycling Ireland and the wider cycling community, we would like to express our condolences to Niall’s family and friends.”
Mr Kieran worked with the Houses of the Oireachtas service in Dáil Éireann in the IT department and recently began providing technology support to the Oireachtas committees’ section.
A spokeswoman for the Houses of the Oireachtas said the service was “profoundly saddened and shocked to hear of Niall’s untimely and unexpected death. We extend our sincere sympathy to his family and to his many friends and colleagues in Leinster House”.
Mr Kieran previously worked for Bank of Ireland and was a graduate of University College Dublin where he earned a BA in History and Political Science in 2017.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday it was aware of the incident and was providing consular assistance to Mr Kieran’s family.
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