Man who 'had best day of his life' dies in hotel room just hours later

Wales Online

08-05-2025

Man who 'had best day of his life' dies in hotel room just hours later
'It will stay with us forever seeing how happy he was that night'
Niall Cunneen pictured with his Everton legend Kevin Sheedy just hours before he died
(Image: Lee Reilly )
A man who'd had the 'best day of his life' celebrating his beloved football team died just hours later. Niall Cunneen, aged 56, from Limerick, Ireland, passed away in Liverpool just hours after experiencing 'the best day of his life' celebrating his cherished football team. Niall was on a trip to visit Goodison Park for one final occasion when the tragedy occurred last week.
Niall had travelled to Liverpool for the weekend on Friday, May 2, with members of the Irish Toffees supporters group for what turned out to be a 'farewell' tour of Goodison Park. After the tour, they met some ex-Everton players and extended their festivities into the early hours of Saturday at a hotel in the city centre.
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On Saturday, May 3, the companions from the supporters' group woke up to discover the grievous news that Niall had passed away. His friend Lee Reilly, 27, whom he'd befriended within the group, spoke to the ECHO about how Niall had "fulfilled his dreams" just before he died. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.
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Recounting the previous day's experience, Lee said: "On Friday we'd met up in Liverpool and did a tour of Goodison Park before having a private event in the Windsor Hotel. It was a farewell to Goodison where we met former players. It was a great night, we stayed there into the early hours of the morning."
Lee went on to describe Niall's joy: "Niall got to fulfil his dreams on Friday, like meeting his hero Kevin Sheedy and listening to Joe Parkinson and Jimmy Martin, who is a legend, do a talk about their memories of their time at the [Everton] ground.", reports the Liverpool Echo.
"Nothing could wipe the smile off his [Niall's] face that night, it will stay with us forever seeing how happy he was that night. He had been made up that night, it was the best day of his life."
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Tragically, the morning following their celebrations, the friends were met with devastating news that Niall had died at his Liverpool hotel.
Lee has since honoured the memory of the "gentle giant" whom he says would do "anything" for anyone. He described Niall as, "Everyone that knew Niall at the Irish Toffees knew that Niall was a gentle giant, a man with incredible manners and a true Everton fan."
"Nothing could wipe the smile off his [Niall's] face that night, it will stay with us forever seeing how happy he was that night. He had been made up that night, it was the best day of his life."
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"He was the life and soul of the party and travelled to numerous games as part of our group to watch his beloved Everton Football Club. He was a lovely man, he would do anything for anyone. He would always be there."
Now, the group is asking for donations to raise enough money to bring Niall's body home to his family in Ireland. Lee said: "We have set up a GoFundMe to help get him home to his beloved family and best friend.
"We are asking for people to reach into their pockets and help us. We are trying to raise enough money to take the pressure off his family at this difficult time, we would really appreciate anything.
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"If we hit our goal and any money raised over the target it will be donated towards funeral costs and to respective charities, including the Kevin Ball Charity who are helping us get him back to Ireland."