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Sunday World
6 days ago
- Sunday World
Tributes flood in for photojournalist who died in road crash
Michael O'Neill (62), was taken to the Mater hospital after his moterbike crashed with a tractor and trailer and he was later pronounced dead Tributes have been paid to press photographer Michael O'Neill, who died in a road crash on Saturday in Dublin. Known as Mick to friends and colleagues in the Irish Daily Star and Irish Mirror, Mr O'Neill died after his motorbike crashed with a tractor and trailer on the Old Airport Road (Collinstown Lane) in North Dublin at around 11am. Mr O'Neill (62), was taken to the Mater hospital but was later pronounced dead. He was a hugely respected and award-winning photojournalist and had a passion for motorbikes, travelling annually to the Isle of Man with friends to watch the TT Races there. Mr O'Neill is survived by his wife Lorraine, son Karl and two grandchildren, Mya and Kai, as well as a wide circle of family members and friends. Star and Mirror photographer Mick O'Neill News in 90 Seconds - Sunday July 13 In a moving tribute, his close friend and colleague of many years, Michael O'Toole, the crime and defence editor of the Irish Daily Star and Irish Mirror, posted online: 'Mick was the snapper's snapper. There was nobody who came close to him. He travelled all over Ireland and the world doing a job he loved and excelled at, one which came naturally to him'. The papers' crime correspondent Paul Healy said Mr O'Neill was everything you would want in a mentor and colleague, but most importantly, a friend. 'We worked closely with one another almost every day for the past ten 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,' Mr Healy said. '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. 'I know he loved his family and his two young grandchildren especially. He also adored his bike and if he wasn't working, he was usually out on it, down the country enjoying himself. He never sat still. He lived his life to the fullest. We will be lost without him.' Editor of the Irish Star and the Irish Daily Mirror, Neil Leslie, said all of Mr O'Neill's colleagues on the Irish Daily Star and Irish Mirror and in the wider Reach Ireland family are devastated at his tragic and untimely loss. '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. 'While his loss will be felt deepest by family and friends, his passing is also a heartbreaking blow for his colleagues.' Group picture editor Zoe Watson said that earlier this year one of Mr O'Neill's images was named in the top 50 photos at the World Press Awards ahead of tens of thousands of others. "Over the last 24 hours it has become apparent just what Mick meant to those who knew him. I've answered dozens of calls and messages from photographers across Ireland. Everyone had a tale to tell and spoke of their genuine love and care towards a man who to many was not just a colleague but a friend,' Ms Watson said. Gardaí have issued an appeal for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to make contact with them.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Irish Independent
Tributes for photojournalist who died in road crash
Known as Mick to friends and colleagues in the Irish Daily Star and Irish Mirror, Mr O'Neill died after his motorbike crashed with a tractor and trailer on the Old Airport Road (Collinstown Lane) in North Dublin at around 11am. Mr O'Neill (62), was taken to the Mater hospital but was later pronounced dead. He was a hugely respected and award-winning photojournalist and had a passion for motorbikes, travelling annually to the Isle of Man with friends to watch the TT Races there. Mr O'Neill is survived by his wife Lorraine, son Karl and two grandchildren, Mya and Kai, as well as a wide circle of family members and friends. In a moving tribute, his close friend and colleague of many years, Michael O'Toole, the crime and defence editor of the Irish Daily Star and Irish Mirror, posted online: 'Mick was the snapper's snapper. There was nobody who came close to him. He travelled all over Ireland and the world doing a job he loved and excelled at, one which came naturally to him'. The papers' crime correspondent Paul Healy said Mr O'Neill was everything you would want in a mentor and colleague, but most importantly, a friend. 'We worked closely with one another almost every day for the past ten 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,' Mr Healy said. '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. 'I know he loved his family and his two young grandchildren especially. He also adored his bike and if he wasn't working, he was usually out on it, down the country enjoying himself. He never sat still. He lived his life to the fullest. We will be lost without him.' Editor of the Irish Star and the Irish Daily Mirror, Neil Leslie, said all of Mr O'Neill's colleagues on the Irish Daily Star and Irish Mirror and in the wider Reach Ireland family are devastated at his tragic and untimely loss. ADVERTISEMENT '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. 'While his loss will be felt deepest by family and friends, his passing is also a heartbreaking blow for his colleagues.' Group picture editor Zoe Watson said that earlier this year one of Mr O'Neill's images was named in the top 50 photos at the World Press Awards ahead of tens of thousands of others. "Over the last 24 hours it has become apparent just what Mick meant to those who knew him. I've answered dozens of calls and messages from photographers across Ireland. Everyone had a tale to tell and spoke of their genuine love and care towards a man who to many was not just a colleague but a friend,' Ms Watson said. Gardaí have issued an appeal for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to make contact with them.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Island hosts 'ultimate' skateboarding contest
About 30 "fearless competitors" from around the world are set to take on the extreme sport of downhill skateboarding on a Manx road for the first time. The third round of the 2025 World Downhill Skateboarding Championship will see participants compete on a 0.8 mile (1.3km) course on the A14 Tholt-y-Will Road near Sulby Reservoir. Advertisement Riders reach speeds of up to 80mph (129km/h) in the series, which has seen rounds held in Austria and Turkey, with events in the USA and El Salvador still to come. Promoter Selim Kemahli said bringing the contest to the home of the TT races from 4 to 6 July was "very exciting" as the island was "synonymous with speed and adrenaline". The Manx route has an average incline of 8.5% but reaches 22% at its steepest. The course starts at a cattle grid and features a fast straight with two hairpin turns shortly before the finish. The skateboarding category sees racers donned in leather suits, crash helmets, gloves take to the course standing on their boards. Advertisement The luge contest sees riders lie on their backs on the boards, using their feet to steer and brake. Qualifying runs for the two leagues of competition will take place on Friday and Saturday, with racing planned for Sunday. Mr Kemahli confirmed the "ultimate" contest for the sport was governed by a strict set of rules, with a raft of safety measures, kit inspections and insurance requirements. He encouraged Manx residents to turn out and watch along the course as "we know that the island has a culture of spectating on crazy stuff". Spectating at the event was "like watching the TT without the engines", he said. Advertisement "This year we're dipping our toes, if its a success we hope to come back year after year using the Gooseneck section of the Mountain Course down into Ramsey," he added. A section of the A14, from next to the Sulby Reservoir to the Tholt y Will Glen, will be closed between 09:00 BST and 18:30 daily for the event. Organisers expect the road will be opened for brief periods throughout the duration. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. More on this story Related internet links
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Isle of Man hosts 'ultimate' downhill skateboarding contest
About 30 "fearless competitors" from around the world are set to take on the extreme sport of downhill skateboarding on a Manx road for the first third round of the 2025 World Downhill Skateboarding Championship will see participants compete on a 0.8 mile (1.3km) course on the A14 Tholt-y-Will Road near Sulby reach speeds of up to 80mph (129km/h) in the series, which has seen rounds held in Austria and Turkey, with events in the USA and El Salvador still to Selim Kemahli said bringing the contest to the home of the TT races from 4 to 6 July was "very exciting" as the island was "synonymous with speed and adrenaline". The Manx route has an average incline of 8.5% but reaches 22% at its course starts at a cattle grid and features a fast straight with two hairpin turns shortly before the skateboarding category sees racers donned in leather suits, crash helmets, gloves take to the course standing on their luge contest sees riders lie on their backs on the boards, using their feet to steer and brake. Qualifying runs for the two leagues of competition will take place on Friday and Saturday, with racing planned for Kemahli confirmed the "ultimate" contest for the sport was governed by a strict set of rules, with a raft of safety measures, kit inspections and insurance encouraged Manx residents to turn out and watch along the course as "we know that the island has a culture of spectating on crazy stuff".Spectating at the event was "like watching the TT without the engines", he said."This year we're dipping our toes, if its a success we hope to come back year after year using the Gooseneck section of the Mountain Course down into Ramsey," he added.A section of the A14, from next to the Sulby Reservoir to the Tholt y Will Glen, will be closed between 09:00 BST and 18:30 daily for the event. Organisers expect the road will be opened for brief periods throughout the duration. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Supercar Island: Chance to see supercars line up in Manx capital
More than 50 brightly coloured supercars will roar into the Manx capital on Thursday as part of a tour of the Supercar Island event will see owners of the vehicles will scale the island in convoy, from the Sound in the south to the Point of Ayre in the car club Petrolheadonism said three free displays would also give residents the opportunity to see a mix of Lamborghinis, Maclarens and Ferraris "up close and personal".Club founder Ciro Ciampi said it would be a "great spectacle for people to see, hear and potentially smell these multicoloured machines driving around the island". On Thursday a supercar selection will be on display in the Manx Museum Car Park from 10:20 to 11:50 BST.A Cars and Coffee event on Douglas Promenade will see the collection swell to 150 with the addition classic, retro and supercars from the island on between 09:30 and 12:30, organisers will be raising money for the island's children's hospice Rebecca 10:00 and 13:00, the vehicles will be on show at the grandstand on Glencrutchery Road, which is home to the start line of the TT Races festival. 'Motorsport heritage' Mr Ciampi said: "There's not many places on this earth where petrolheads are welcomed with open arms."We've already been absolutely blown away by hospitality of Manx people, everyone has been so welcoming.""We're excited to drive on roads that are also a TT race track, like you've seen when you're watching the TV coverage" of the annual competition, he said."But with the inherent motorsport heritage of the island, we hope it's the first of many years of the tour, and one that residents come and enjoy with us as well", he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
