West Limerick and the wider community was plunged into mourning this Tuesday morning when news filtered through of the passing of Denis (Den) O’Brien of Ballyhahill.
A popular photographer and farmer, Den and his camera were known far and wide at sporting and various events throughout Limerick and beyond.
Nowhere will he be greater missed than among his colleagues at the Weekly Observer where he has been catching the sporting action and people’s special occasions and supplying photographs for publication for almost 30 years.
An enthusiastic sportsman with a great love for G.A.A. and greyhound sports, he was a huge and influential figure among followers of those sports.
He was just one of a handful of people to be present in Croke Park to see Limerick winning six All-Ireland finals, in 1973 and in the recent five in six years, which was a source of great pride to him.
Predeceased by his daughter Edel, his parents Tom and Moll and brother Con, Den is sadly missed by his wife Gertie, his sister Jose, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, special friend Timmy Conroy, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Den will repose at the Church of the Visitation, Ballyhahill, on this Thursday evening from 5 to 8pm. Requiem Mass on Friday at 12 noon with burial afterwards in Kilfergus Cemetery, Glin.