Irish cycling is in shock after the tragic news of the death of Kieran McMahon in a road traffic accident in Co. Cork yesterday.

The Clareman was part of the winning Kerry county team in this year’s FBD Milk Rás and came out of the race in good form, placing fifth in the John Drum memorial in Kerry. He would have been aiming for a good showing in the national road race championships in Sligo next Sunday. With close friend and team-mate Paul Griffin in flying form at the moment the Earl of Desmond riders would have been one of the contenders for the team prize.

Kieran had competed with a number of teams over the years, including Limerick CC and Dan Morrissey’s. The 30 year old also rode on several Irish national squads, winning the team prize in last year’s Ras Mumhan and most recently taking part in the Giro del Capo in South Africa this spring.

Elite team manager Martin O’Loughlin knew Kieran well, and paid tribute to him on a sporting and personal basis.

‘It’s very sad to hear the news. Kieran was a perfect gentleman, a very quiet chap. He came from a fabulous family. His father was a great supporter of his for years. He’d go along to all the races with his camera and must have taken more footage at races than anyone else in Ireland. On a ten mile lap you might see the father three or four times, as he would nip backwards and forwards to see the race and to get his images.’

'Kieran was a very good rider, especially in criteriums. He had a fantastic jump out of a corner – you might be right on his wheel going into a bend but he’d take twenty yards out of you coming out of it. He was also a very good team rider and earned an Ireland jersey on a number of occasions. He was part of the Irish team which won the overall title in the 2003 Ras Mumhan, as well as being part of the winning Kerry team in this year’s FBD Milk Rás.’

Kieran will be greatly missed by his parents Brian and Margaret, his sisters Deirdre and Claire and his younger brother Brian Og. Also his many friends, his club mates and colleagues. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

May he rest in peace.

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Arrangements: Removal from McMahon’s Funeral Home in Blackwater at 8pm tomorrow evening (Wednesday), going to Clonlara Church.

Funeral mass at Clonlara Church at 11 am Thursday morning, for burial at Doonass Cemetery.

Kieran (third from left) was part of the victorious Kerry county team in this year's FBD Milk Ras

Kieran rode on the Irish team in last year's Ras Mumhan, finishing tenth overall and taking the team prize (photo by Gerry McManus)