Rita McCormack
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JJ McCormack - RIP
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BOOK OF CONDOLENCES
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To the McCormack Family
It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of JJ he was a rock within Irish cycling. I have very found memories of him during my own cycling days in the 80's. and 90's. I would like to offer my condolence to the family and my prayers are with yee all.
Regards,
Martin Thompson
Gdynia Poland (former Balbriggan Cycling Club)
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I was very sorry to hear last week of the passing of JJ McCormack, RIP.
I have many great memories as a youngster watching JJ and my late father Jim trade stories about how their respective sons were doing in races. The smell of cigars was usually thick in the air.
Joe Joe represented what is good about cycling and Ireland - the ability to pick yourself up and get the job done whilst making good friends along the way.
I was delighted to see such a good turnout yesterday for JJ's funeral. The eulogies by John and Paul were stark in their contrast of styles, but both got to the very heart of JJ as a man.
On behalf of the McQuaid family members that could not attend, I offer the McCormack family our sincerest sympathies.
Darach McQuaid
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So sorry to have just learned of the passing away of JJ as I always knew him my first contacts with him was in the late 50s when he rode in the Tour of the North he always stayed with my family and our friendship was to me very special in 1956 or was it 1957. I was competing in the Dublin to Birr 3-Day Race, JJ came from Birr and on our first night there he introduced me to his young Son Alan with the following words "shake the kind gentlemans hand and thank him for the Half Crown" so I had to put my hand in my pocket and part with my money.
In the following years I had the great pleasure to compete Internationally for Ireland and on 2 occasions JJ was also a member. In 1959 along with The Ironman the Great John Lackey and Ian Moore we represented our country at the International Tour of Scotland a 3-Day race with stages around 150 Miles each day. Ian Moore was 1st, JJ was 5th and I think I was 7th, John Lackey had unfortunately crashed after day 1 and had to retire the same year at the Worlds Championships in Holland. JJ, Ian Moore, Sam Kerr and myself made up the Irish Team in the road race, I used to stay with the McCormacks when they lived in Aran Quay along the Liffey.
Really sorry at JJs passing I wonder what St Peter will say when he meets him at the Pearly Gates
Jim McGuire
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As a fan of cycling. I want to say thank you to Mr. McCormack for all the work he did for cycling. Every body I speak to Says he was Mr. Cycling
John O'Connor
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My condolences to the McCormack family on the passing of JJ.
I first met him in 1983 following a successful Kellogg's City Centre Cycling event in Dublin.
He arranged a meeting with Pat McQuaid and I and asked us if we were interested in taking on the burden of the Tour of Ireland "as I am getting on and it needs to be with younger people".
This was a selfless act which set Pat and I on the road to eight Nissan Classic Tours of Ireland and much more that followed.
I hope that I too will have the wisdom of JJ.
RIP
Alan Rushton
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I was very sad to hear of the passing of Joe Joe McCormack, a truly great character who gave so much to Irish cycling.
Condolences to the McCormack family.
From The Kelly Family, Palmerstown.
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It was with great sadness that I received a text, whilst on holidays, from Cycling Ireland President Rory Wyley advising me of the death of Joe Joe McCormack.
Joe Joe without a doubt was one of those larger than life characters and his input into cycling in this country may never be surpassed. I remember as a child being taken to races by my dad and seeing JJ race. Indeed I was fortunate, maybe that should be unfortunate as he could sure make your legs hurt, to have a year or two overlap as he retired and I started racing. He won multiple National Championship medals on road and track but for me my fond memories are of him as a superb roadman on his Hercules Bike, given by Hercules Ireland to the top riders in the country, who represented his country on numerous occasions. I also remember him on his visits to the Tour of the North exchanging jokes with my mother and I can still remember the laughs of the two of them. He had such an infectious laugh.
Upon his retirement he became a respected administrator in the Irish Cycling Federation and along with the late John Lackey was involved in the promotion of many successful Tours of Ireland. How many can forget he or John Lackey jumping out of a hedge waving a prime flag as they had managed to screw a few schillings or some item or piece of clothing or even a cut of meat out of a local shop owner for a prime prise when they were painting the direction arrows on the road in the local town.
He was a sound believer that the success of our sport lay with attracting young ones into racing and he came up with the Junior Tour concept and it speaks volumes for his legacy that the event still goes on successfully even to this day. I remember well as either a commissaire or team official at the Junior Tour when he started a crit at the top of St Patrick's Hill in Cork. Everybody said he was mad but when it was over with no accidents his comments were " Didn't I tell you it would be grand". Yes JJ was a non conformist of the highest order.
The division within cycling on the Island also concerned him greatly and like myself he was involved from the early 70s in a series of meetings, both official and unofficial, which took place around the country leading to the formation of the Tripartite Committee in 1977 which eventually united all cyclists on the Island of Ireland into one National Governing Body the Federation of Irish Cyclists in 1988. Another JJ legacy.
As a team official in the 70s and 80s I was involved with the National Team on many occasion and I was pleased that Alan and Paul regularly were members of some of these teams ensuring that the McCormack dynasty continued long after JJ had hung up his wheels.
Whilst I will be unable to attend his funeral my thoughts will be very much with Rita, Alan, Paul, John, Carol and Brian on this very sad occasion.
Jack Watson,
Honorary Secretary,
Cycling Ireland.
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My condolence to Rita, Alan, Paul, John, Carol and Brian on the loss of Joe Joe as he was known. With his skill in selling furniture in Grafton St. and later sewing machines from Parnell St. he was able to persuade anyone to donate to a cycle race, particularly with the Raleigh/Dunlop Tour of Ireland and Junior Tour.
His attitude was, it will be alright, so don't worry and it usually was. His infectious laugh, would place any situation into a happy one no matter what the problem was, so I am sure he is now with St. Peter reserving all our accommodation with him.
Again my sincere sympathy.
IAN GALLAHAR.
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It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of 'Joe Joe' McCormack.
I fondly remember my Sundays as a child with my brother David following numerous races all over the country with Joe Joe and my late father John. Joe Joe always regaled us with stories of his great victories over my father and with each telling the victories were even greater. For some reason he never told us about the times when my father emerged victorious.
The smell of cigars and the infectious laughs of these two former sporting adversaries had us in stitches. We looked forward to this as much as following the exploits of the stars of the 1970's.
Joe Joe gave so much to Irish cycling. He will be greatly missed.
On behalf of all my family I wish to express my deepest sympathy to his wife Rita and all the McCormack family.
Ian Lackey
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JJ McCormack was a legend, he was the glue that kept Irish cycling going in the 70,s and 80,s. He was also hilarious and could run a race on a shoestring. In 1979 he ran the Birr 3 day and Philip Cassidy, myself and my brother John rode it. We had a mad weekend which included throwing Gary Thompson in a river and drowning Conor Kelly with buckets of water in the middle of the time trial, when my father came to collect us Joe called him over, he pointed at me and said "Mr Nolan he's a pup", then he pointed at Cass and said "hes a pup" and then pointed to the younger John and said "he was led". This was all done with a twinkle in his eye.
We all have great stories about Joe. I remember riding a race in the Phoenix Park in 1981 and Oliver McQuaid won it, it was a big deal because there were about 200 riders and Rochey rode the race on a short break home from France after winning Paris Nice and a heap of other races, when Joe produced a frying pan for first prize Olly said it was grand he would hold on until he had won the whole set, such was the good humour of the time, any few bob Joe ever got in entries himself and Paddy Sullivan would put back into the next race they ran and that was nearly every week.
He called me over to the car before a race one time and said "the McCormacks will get ye all today" and he was right, between Paul , Alan and John they won a load of races and Joe was as proud as punch.
May he rest in peace
PJ Nolan
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It was with real sadness that I heard of the passing of JJ last week. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.
I remember his infectious enthusiasm for the sport no matter what kind of race it was. He managed to talk me into riding the St Stephens day cyclocross race on my road bike with slick tyres, to continue on in Bohermeen in the rain after 3 punctures and helped instill a love of the sport which remains today.
A character that will be missed, an enthusiasm that was never missing and above all, a gentleman of the highest order. Nobody would bet against St. Peter being tapped for sponsorship for a Tour de Pearly Gates!
Thanks for everything JJ. Sleep well.
Donal O'Brien
GRTC EXCELSIOR Netherlands and ex DWCC
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Just learned the sad news of John Joe's passing and sincerest sympathies to the McCormack family.
The Maye family will have nothing only fond memories of JJ and of all the races he promoted over the years.. sometimes with little help and a small budget but always with the the best interests of cycling and the true spirit of sport paramount... a true legend of cycling.
Ken Maye
Clonard Road Club
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Hearing of the passing of that great cycling man JJ, brought back many happy memories of underage cycling in the eighties. My son Stephen and Paul had just taken up cycling, having no background. JJ was THE MAN and ran races on shoestrings. His enthusiasm never waned and was the smiling welcoming face at all the races. Prizes were often a box of biscuits or an ornament for the mammy. A field of 200 in the junior tour, which stretched the safety limit's, were a sight to behold. Ni Bhecamid a leithead aris.
Condolences to all his family on the passing of a cycling legend.
Brian Arrigan
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Joe McCormack was a small man with a big heart. As I was growing up in Glasnevin in my early years I saw JoeJoe competing many times against my father Jim, both on road, track and even grass. They had a great rivalry and indeed were good friends throughout their careers and in later life.
They had a lot in common because they both instilled a love of cycling in their children and they both re-lived their rivalry in the battles which took place between myself and my brothers against Alan, Paul and John. JoeJoe would always be smiling with that big cigar saying he didn't care who won but you knew he desperately wanted to see the McCormack's beat the McQuaids.
As always in sport that rivalry brought about a close friendship which exists to this day. The Irish cycling family have lost a great champion. Rita ,Carol, Brian, Alan, Paul and John have lost a great husband and father who gave his whole life to our sport.
Pat McQuaid
President
Union Cycliste Internatonale
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It is with great sadness that i learned of the death of Joe he was one of the first people that i met through cycling when i first started going to races with my late husband Donal Crowley in the early seventies and he brightened up any day he always had a smile and a laugh to share and was what we call in Cork a lovable rogue deepest condolences to Mrs McCormack and Family from all the extended Crowley Family In Blarney our Thoughts and Prayers are with you all at this sad time
Kind Regards
Marie Crowley
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I just found out the sad news of JJ McCormack's passing and I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Alan, Paul, John and all the McCormack family. I will always remember JJ as a smiling affable "gentle" man. JJ was always the most positive person and was always willing and ready to help out any young rider that needed help.
JJ's legacy will always live on through the Junior Tour of Ireland, and there are many riders in the Pro Peloton today that got their first taste of International stage racing riding the Junior Tour of Ireland.
May he rest in Peace.
Tom Mannion
Boston, USA
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Recall JJ's kindness and skill from the Junior Tour 20 years ago this year, where assembled and organizied nearly 200 hopeful riders.
Rest in Peace.
myles mc corry
BikePure.org
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Details of the funeral arrangements are as follows:-
Wednesday 15th September 10.00am Jennings Funeral Home Oscar Trainer Rd Coolock for mass in Donaghmede Church followed by burial in Fingal cemetery.
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FUNERAL
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Wednesday 15th September: Removal from Jenning's funeral home, Oscar Traynor Road, Coolock at 9.30am to Holy Trinity Church, Donaghmede, arriving for mass at 10.00am. Funeral immediately afterwards to Fingal Cemetery, Balgriffin.