Latest news with #MickO'Neill
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Award-winning photojournalist Mick O'Neill laid to rest in Dublin funeral after tragic motorbike crash
AWARD-winning photographer Mick O'Neill has been laid to rest after he died in a motorcycle accident in Dublin earlier this month. Photographers from across the industry formed a guard of honour today, with a camera salute at his funeral in a touching tribute to the Advertisement 2 Photographer Mick O'Neill has been laid to rest Credit: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos 2 The popular snapper died in a motorcycle accident in Dublin Credit: Social Media collect The popular snapper, 62, had worked at the Irish Mirror and Irish Daily Star for over 20 years and won multiple awards during his career. He died after his A motorcycle helmet, press photographer awards and a photo of Mick and his beloved granddaughter Mya were brought to the altar as gifts during the funeral at the Church of St Finian's in Swords, Dublin. Mya told mourners: "He wasn't only my grandad, he was my best friend. Advertisement Read more in News "We had such a strong bond. "I love you, Grandad Mick, I miss your calls already." Tributes were earlier paid to the popular photographer following his passing. Star journo Michael O'Toole said: 'Mick was the snapper's snapper. There was nobody who came close to him. Advertisement Most read in Irish News "He travelled all over Ireland and the world doing a job he loved and excelled at, one which came naturally to him. "I have never seen any media professional as gifted as Mick at talking to people, at making them feel at ease in the most stressful of situations, at connecting with them, essentially. 'HE HAD IT ALL' "He made the job of the reporter working with him easy. He had it all. And he was great, superb, company. God, he was amazing." Our Showbiz Editor Ken Sweeney worked with Mick for years in The Star. Advertisement He said: 'Mick was prepared to stay at a job for as long as it took to get the picture we needed. Hours and days if needed, Mick never gave up.' Irish Star and Mirror Editor Neil Leslie said colleagues were 'devastated'. 'TRULY OUTSTANDING' He added: "Mick was a truly outstanding journalist and photographer. "Moreover, he was a great friend and a wise mentor to the other journalists who worked alongside him over many years." Advertisement 'Mick's unique contribution to our own papers and titles and wider Irish journalism was immense.' Irish Star and Mirror journo Paul Healy said he has 'lost not just a colleague and a mentor, but a friend'. 'INCREDIBLE WAY WITH PEOPLE' He said: 'I can't begin to describe to you the amount of scrapes we were in together over the years, and the hours we spent sitting in cars staking out criminals (and yes, at times, driving each other mad!). But that's the job. 'We worked closely with one another almost every day for the past 10 years, and in that time confided in one another and often sought each other's advice. But it was usually Mick's advice that I needed. Advertisement 'He also had an incredible way with people and even though it would be me doing the interview, he was often the one that had gotten the best lines out of someone. "He had a keen news sense, incredible contacts and after over 30 years in the business still had an incredible appetite to work that would put even the most eager of employees to shame." 'LIVED HIS LIFE TO THE FULLEST' Healy described Mick's love for his family, especially his two young grandchildren, and the adoration he had for his bike. He said: "If he wasn't working, he was usually out on it, down the country enjoying himself. He never sat still. Advertisement "He lived his life to the fullest. We will be lost without him. RIP.' Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or the moments leading up to the crash has been asked to assist gardai in their investigation. A garda spokesperson said: "Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them. "Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 10:30am and 11:15am this morning (July 12) are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí. Advertisement "Anyone with information is asked to contact Santry Garda Station on 01 666 4000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station."
Irish Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Award-winning photographer was a mirror to the world and a dear friend to many
The funeral of our photographer Mick O'Neill, tragically killed in a road traffic accident last weekend, took place on Monday, July 21, in had travelled all over the world with his job, on often risky assignments, sent home pictures from places as far flung as Peru, Lebanon, The Netherlands, Mauritius, India, Dubai and it is also fair to say many of our sports-mad readers had a brush with his lens at times as he covered, by choice, a lot of domestic and Mick's long standing joke about some of the more obscure games we covered was that 'we were not so much outstanding in our own fields but out standing in someone else's...' It never ceased to amaze me either that he was on first-name terms with so many. He had privately organised/sent on pics, to players, clubs, charities and they remembered him. Photographers form a guard of honour at the funeral of Irish Mirror photographer, Mick O'Neill. (Image: Collins Photos) I've done every sport imaginable with Mick as well as news stories encompassing everything from astronauts to Holocaust, from Ballyragget to Ballymun, Ploughing Championships to Galway was a tough newspaper character, stoic by times, with an often 1940/50s lazy carry of the camera but with a hawkeye for a picture, especially a compassionate one amid we recently found ourselves in a corner in a tough, some might say infamous neighbourhood where his bravery behind a quick smile got us out. It is not easy carrying a couple of thousand euros worth of cameras, it makes you an easy target, but he just had that carriage - trust PLC's Head of Photographic Zoe Watson was Mick's boss but it also made her the person responsible for delivering the roster/bad news to they have to spend some time in a cold ditch or cramped in our 'secret' van without heating or a toilet or in Mick's case he had to go somewhere where there was sun."I've some great memories of the few times we'd been together, the last being at the photography awards in February," says Zoe. "I'll always remember his mischievous snigger when you knew he was up to something and always had a sparkle in his eye. The funeral of photographer Mick O'Neill at the Church of St Finian's, River Valley, Swords, Dublin this morning. (Image: Stephen Collins/Collins Photo) "He was a chancer who once tried to claim expenses for three deodorants, three bottles of suncream and four shower gels - he was only going on a four day trip to the Leb."I remember phoning him about it and the both of us just burst out laughing, he knew he wouldn't get away with that one."Multi-award winning sports writer and documentary maker David Coughland ('Louder Than Bombs: The Smiths in Ireland, 1984', 'Cigarettes and Samba', 'Crossing The Line', 'Hello Spaceboy', 'Green and Gold') is also a sports editor with this photography is about the instant, it sometimes needs a cross between Billy the Kid and Butch Cassidy - quick on the draw - or miss the moment. "One of my favourite photos by Mick is from a job we did together down in Youghal," says Coughlan of a split-second, single frame shot he will always remember. "It was the week before Cheltenham and Davy Russell's last Festival. "Mick lined up a photo of Davy and his father Jerry - now also sadly gone - when up popped then-four-year-old Liam in between them in sunglasses and a cowboy hat. "Mick pressed the shutter and captured a special moment." Jockey Davy Russell with his son Liam, 4, and father Jerry in the family home in Youghal in Cork (Image: Mick O'Neill) The Star's Deputy Sports Editor - and former Target kingpin - Paul Kavanagh recalls another deodorant related tale. "We were in Vienna for on night to cover a motorsport event and we both had ours sprays taken from us going through the airport. "The next morning we went wandering through the streets of the city, no clue where we were going and no shops pandering to the Lynx effect. "We had a great laugh , and that was Mick all over, easy company and good craic." Of course Mick O'Neill's most celebrated shot was that of the family and the big wave coming over the is a PPAI (Press Photographers' Association of Ireland) award winning shot and I remember him telling me that shot came a different family had been walking along completely oblivious that the storm wall was breached every so often, it was a question waiting. When the wave finally crashed over top, the family's St Vitus Dance wasn't just captured in one shot. There is actually a succession of them, one after another with so much movement they are almost 3D. Mick O'Neill with his PPAI award and award-winning picture That's the same PPAI that accorded Mick one of their highest marks of respect - members formed a guard of honour for the coffin as it left the church with their cameras on the ground at their Crime Reporter and fiction author Mick O'Toole (Black Light, Goodreads, 2022) recalls: "As far as I am concerned his best 'sports' picture is from a golf course where, naturally enough, he wasn't a member. It was the one at Shelton Abbey prison in Co Wicklow. "Regarding this, we believe he is the only person in Irish history ever to break INTO a prison when in September 2021, he learned that the criminal, serving life for the murder of Veronica Guerin, was now locked up there. "Mick gained access and fought his way through woods and heavy undergrowth before hiding for several hours to get photos of his target playing pitch and putt in the prison grounds – his images deservedly made the front pages the next day." Mick is gone but may have one big headline left in him. His picture of Michael Kelley, taken from tracking the subject deep into a wooded area in Kerry, may yet be a 2025 PPAI award winner. Michael Kelley seen here on Michael Gaine's farm near Kenmare Co Kerry. (Image: Exclusive Image: Mick O'Neill/Daily Mirror)
Irish Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Funeral mass hears photographer was 'solid bloke' who loved his family dearly
Irish Mirror photographer Mick O'Neill was a 'solid bloke' with a wicked sense of humour who loved his family deeply, his funeral Mass heard on Monday. Mick sadly died aged 62 on July 12 after a motorcycle accident on the Old Airport Road in north Dublin. The talented photographer worked for the Irish Mirror and Irish Daily Star for over 20 years, and is dearly missed by all his colleagues. His funeral mass took place at the Church of St Finian's in Swords on Monday morning, followed by burial in Dardistown Cemetery. A motorcycle helmet, press photographer awards and a photo of Mick and his beloved granddaughter Mya, 12, were brought to the altar as gifts. Mourners heard that Mick, who was from Artane but lived in Swords, was a 'proud Dubliner' who was happiest when on his bike or with his family. His granddaughter Mya told the funeral Mass that he would do anything to make her happy, and was immensely proud of her. She said: 'Grandad wasn't only my grandad, he was my best friend, we had such a strong bond. I'm not sure if he just liked breakfast or if it was an excuse to call me because every time he did it would be the same question- 'Do you want to go for breakfast?' 'Grandad always liked to keep his little princess happy, if I had a problem he would solve it. He was always so proud, he would make it out that whatever I did no one had ever done before. "He did everything to keep me happy, he went all over Ireland to find Uggs for me for Christmas. We loved to eat chocolate together so if he was to buy me a gift that's what he could get but sometimes all I got was a photo.' Mick O'Neill is carried to his final resting place following his funeral on Monday morning. (Image: Collins Photos) Photographers form a guard of honour at the funeral of Irish Mirror photographer, Mick O'Neill. (Image: Collins Photos) Mick is dearly missed by Mya, his son Karl, Karl's partner Vicky and mother Lorraine, brothers Terry and Owen and sisters Ann and Helena. On behalf of the family, Mick's close friend Noel Fay thanked everyone for their support, and the emergency service and hospital staff that helped him after the tragic accident. Paying tribute to his dear friend during the mass, Noel said: 'Mick was a solid bloke, when you became his friend, you stayed his friend. I never heard him say a bad word about anyone, he had a great respect for people. He was well-liked because of his modesty, subtle sense of humour and his professional approach to his work. 'Everybody here has some memorable and funny stories of Mick but he wasn't perfect and he had his flaws. Mick was always early, it was so annoying. He was never late and I hated that. As for his antique phone, iPhone 1 I think. Everybody pleaded with him to get a new one. 'When at any restaurant he would try and order the most obscure things that weren't on the menu. But he loved his sticky buns.' On behalf of Crime Correspondent Mick O'Toole and his colleagues, Noel told the mass that he was 'a mentor and friend to dozens of reporters over the years'. He added: '(Mick) would treat a homeless person with the same respect he would give to the president. He had a unique way of putting interviewees and people he was photographing at ease. His humour, energy, dedication and sense of decency all made a reporter's job easier. Pictured from left to right, Irish Mirror photographer, Mick O'Neill with Irish Mirror journalists Paul Healy and Michael O'Toole. Michael Kelley seen here on Michael Gaine's farm near Kenmare Co Kerry. (Image: Exclusive Image: Mick O'Neill/Daily Mirror) 'He travelled all over the world with his job, often on risky assignments. Some of the countries he went to included Peru, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Mauritius, India, Dubai and Spain. All of his colleagues are devastated by his loss, he is irreplaceable.' Mick was a renowned news photographer in Ireland and won multiple awards for his incredible photos that no one else managed to snap. Mourners heard that the Dubliner would wait for hours to get the perfect shot, and was always highly professional when it came to his work. Noel continued: 'With Mick, he was always the happiest when he was out on the bike with the lads. It was only when sharing a pint with Mick that you would get the full story about his work and his achievements. The problem was his modesty starved you of his news and you had to drag it out of him. Some of his stories were so outrageous but they were all true. 'I remember a few months ago I was trying to get Mick on the phone over the course of a few days, but each time I got no answer so I guessed that he was away or busy working. The next day I saw that famous dramatic photo on the front page of The Star of the guy with a big axe in his hands regarding the missing Kerry farmer Michael Gaine. 'It then made sense to me why I couldn't get him on the phone. The photograph was by Mick O'Neill, exclusive image for the Star and Mirror. There he was doing what he does best, making the news. But today my friends, in a sad way, Mick is the news.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
