Girlfriend’s heartbreaking tribute to ‘adventure buddy’ lover killed while ‘chopping up a tree’ in Storm Ophelia
Michael Pyke died while 'trying to open up a blocked road' in Cahir on Monday afternoon
THE devastated girlfriend of a man who died while "chopping up a tree" in Storm Ophelia has shared a heartbreaking message to her "adventure buddy".
Michael Pyke went out to cut up a tree that was blocking a road between the villages of Ballybrado and Cahir in Co Tipperary on Monday.
Heartbroken Nollaig Hennessy took to social media last night and paid tribute to her partner.
She wrote on Facebook: "My adventure Buddy.. what memories we have.
"Unfortunately we are now on different paths.. but I know you're never far away! Love you always!"
Yesterday, the 31-year-old's family told how he lost his life while "trying to do a good deed".
Brother Phil Pyke told RTE News: "Michael went out, he was trying to do good. Trying to open a road that was closed.
"There's a lot of old people that live on the road. Great man.
"Michael was a big strong man, he's bigger than me I'm 6ft, Michael is 6ft 2.
"The most gentle giant you could ever meet in your lifetime.
"Michael would take his heart out of his chest and give it to you if he could.
"You could ring him at 3 o'clock, 4 o'clock in the morning which I did.
"I was broke down on a road and he was there ten minutes after. He would get out of his bed, he'd do that not just for his family but anybody."
Brother Dave added: "He was doing a very good deed in the height of the storm and the tree just came down. You can't put it into words."
And his sister Linda said: "It's so sad to think that he is gone.
"It is horrible but so many people love him and I hope they treasure his memory forever because he was such a great lad and a son to my father. He was the apple of my dad's eye."
The dangerous tropical storm claimed the lives of three people as it ripped through the country yesterday.
Storm Ophelia claimed its first victim at 11.40am on Monday when a branch was blown off a tree and smashed down on cancer nurse Clare O’Neill’s car near the village of Aglish, Co Waterford.
The mum-of-one had been travelling with her mother, aged in her 70s, when the tree gored her in the chest, killing her instantly.
The Cork native, who was due to celebrate her 59th birthday yesterday, was less than a kilometre from her home at the time.
Cork’s ARC Cancer Support House, where Clare worked, paid tribute to her yesterday: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our friend and colleague, Clare O’Neill.
“She was a wonderful nurse and a special person who will be missed by the Cork ARC Cancer Support House team, our volunteers and all the people and patients she worked with here and in Youghal.
"Our thoughts are with her family at this most difficult time.”
Clare worked with Cork ARC Cancer Support House for over a decade.
She was instrumental in establishing its new service Cuan House at Friar Street in Youghal, servicing the East and West Waterford areas.
Clare’s local hillwalking club also paid a heartfelt tribute to the passionate nurse who has helped patients fight cancer for the past three decades.
The Dungarvan Hillwalking Club said: “We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Clare O’Neill, who lost her life during Storm Ophelia.
“We particularly extend our sympathies to her daughter Rosie and to her mother and wish her mother a speedy recovery from her injuries.
“Clare and Rosie were valued members in our club for many years. We will remember Clare for her warmth, kindness and empathy and are deeply saddened at her loss.”
Tributes were also paid to the third victim of Storm Ophelia’s destruction — talented GAA player and dad-of-two Fintan Goss.
The 33-year-old tradesman was just ten minutes away from his home in Ravensdale, Dundalk, Co Louth, after leaving work early — when a tree collapsed onto his car.
The popular young man had just had his second child with his wife Pamela a number of weeks before the freak accident took his life.
He is the brother of former Louth GAA captain Colin Goss.
A number of Louth GAA clubs yesterday paid tribute to talented Fintan who previously played for St Patrick’s GFC and was involved in all aspects of the club.
St Patrick’s said in a statement: “It is with great sadness we learned of the death as a result of a car accident of former player Fintan Goss.
"Fintan played at all levels with the club both at underage and adult level, winning a County Minor Championship medal in 2002.”
They continued: “Like all of his family, he was a true Pats supporter, being involved in various fundraising efforts on the club’s behalf.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to Fintan’s wife Pamela and their two beautiful children, to his parents John and Mary, to his brother Colin, to his sister Maria and the wider family circle.”
