Tributes paid to Waterford cyclist who died on Tour de France trip
Tomás Walsh, 25, was a member of the Comeragh Cycling Club and had been in the country for the Tour de France.
The club led the tributes, saying they are shattered by the news.
"It is with great sadness that we have learned that our clubmate and friend young Tomás Walsh has lost his life in France," said a statement.
"We're truly shattered by this news and extend our sincerest condolences to all his family and friends."
Waterford-based bike shop Altitude said Tomás "was one of a golden group of talented cyclists who happened to converge through their membership of Comeragh Cycling Club" where "great friendships were formed".
"His death is deeply felt by everyone here and we extend our deepest sympathy to Bernie and Frank and to Tomás' sisters and his family and friends."
Local side Passage Hurling Club, where Tomás was a juvenile player, also expressed "deepest sympathies to his family and friends at this difficult time".
It has been reported that Tomás was electrocuted in a Paris Metro station on Monday morning.
Funeral details have yet to be announced.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Half-time message was to have no regrets as Cork found way to break down Waterford's defence
Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie semi-final: Cork 1-21 Waterford 1-11 Have no regrets. That was the message at half time in UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday after hot favourites Cork went to the dressing-room one point in arrears in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship semi-final. Courageous Waterford had put it up to them and Beth Carton's 15th minute goal - Mairéad O'Brien the provider - was a big moment in that first half. Cork struggled with the opposition's game plan. Abby Flynn's stoppage time point enabled Waterford to lead 1-7 to 0-9 at the interval. A significantly-improved second half performance led to the three-in-a-row seeking champions carving out a 10-point victory and a highly-anticipated meeting with familiar foes Galway in a repeat of last year's final in two weeks time. 'They set up with two extra at the back and it probably took us a while to figure out how to get our forwards on the ball,' captain Méabh Cahalane explained. 'At half time we discussed that if we ran it through the lines and forced Waterford to come out and defend from higher up, we'd have a great chance. 'Laura Treacy, as our spare player, she kind of dictated the whole thing and was telling who to take who, and once we got our running game going in the third quarter I felt it gave us a great platform going into the final stretch. 'The big thing about sport is, it is always hard when you have regrets. We came in at half time and we felt we would have regrets if we didn't go out in the second half (and perform). There is no game won after 30 minutes, we had another 30 minutes to rectify what we weren't doing right. We definitely needed to bring more energy to our play, get in on the rucks and tackle harder.' With the double header drawing a crowd of 7,120 to the superb Kilkenny venue, the atmosphere was electric. In fact, Mick Boland's side could have had another goal in that period but Carton's brave effort in the eighth minute inched over the bar rather than under. Cork had come off a four-week break and that may have led to some rustiness. They were thankful to prolific attacker Saoirse McCarthy who gave the Rebel support something to cheer about. She had a major influence on the outcome tallying seven points - four in the opening 30 minutes. Incidentally Boland, who lives in Carrigtwohill, coached McCarthy when Courcey Rovers won the Cork senior championship in 2020. Cork were a different proposition after the restart outscoring their near neighbours seven points to two in a wind-assisted 15-minute spell. Katrina Mackey was a late replacement for the injured Clodagh Finn and in her 17th senior inter-county season the Douglas legend struck three points in six minutes. With Cork's defensive structure now in full swing the Déise were beginning to struggle. Yet with 12 minutes remaining, they were very much in the hunt, 0-16 to 1-10. Cork, however, continued to build momentum and influential substitute Orlaith Mullins' stoppage time goal - put through by Orlaith Cahalane - gave the Sarsfields lady a day to remember. She sensationally grabbed 1-2 after being introduced three minutes from time. 'When it mattered we stepped it up,' noted manager Ger Manley. 'We said that to them at half time to step it up and the girls pushed themselves. I thought in the second half they were excellent. 'Will it do for the final? Probably not. But 1-21 is a solid score. 'You have to give credit to Waterford, they worked very hard. They played two sweepers. 'Carton had a great game early on but I think Pamela Mackey was unbelievable on her and Carton is one of the best players in camogie history so both Mackeys, they were excellent. 'Katrina has been injured, we only got her back in the last couple of weeks. She has quality. 'There is huge quality there but you need it all.' Scorers for Cork: S McCarthy (0-7, 0-4 frees), O Mullins (1-2), K Mackey (0-4), A O'Connor (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 45), E Murphy and S McCartan (0-2 each), L Hayes (0-1). Scorers for Waterford: B Carton (1-4), Rockett (0-5, 0-3 frees), L Bray and A Flynn (0-1 each). CORK: A Lee; P Mackey, L Coppinger, M Cahalane (Capt); A Healy, L Treacy, L Hayes; H Looney, A Thompson; E Murphy, S McCartan, E Murphy; O Cahalane, K Mackey, A O'Connor. Subs: C Healy for E Murphy (53), M Murphy for A Thompson, O Mullins for S McCartan (both 57), A Fitzgerald for L Hayes (62). WATERFORD: B O'Regan; A McNulty, K Corbett Barry, V Falconer; B Bowdren, R Walsh, O Hickey; L Bray (Capt), A Flynn; E O'Neill; B Carton, E O'Neill, M O'Brien; A Fitzgerald, N Rockett, K Lynch. Subs: T Power for B Bowdren (40), M Gostl for M O'Brien (46), M Comerford for A Flynn (55), N Ahearne for A Fitzgerald (63). Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin).
Irish Examiner
11 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Tadej Pogacar wins fourth Tour de France title as Wout van Aert takes last stage
Tadej Pogacar celebrated his fourth Tour de France title in Paris but was denied what would have been a stunning final stage victory as Wout van Aert rode away on the wet cobbles of Montmartre to win on the Champs-Elysees. Pogacar looked keen to take what could prove to be a unique opportunity to win in yellow in Paris as the introduction of three ascents of the climb to Montmartre reshaped the usual final day procession, but Van Aert broke clear on the last time up to take the glory. Although the general classification times had been neutralised in the soggy conditions, Pogacar still had to finish to secure his title yet was willing to risk it all on the greasy cobbles in pursuit of a fifth stage win of this Tour. The Slovenian attacked each time up the narrow climb to whittle down a leading group to just a handful of riders, but had no response when Van Aert made his move 400 metres from the summit of the final ascent, winning solo by 19 seconds from Davide Ballerini. "It was a special day out," said Van Aert, who took his 10th career stage win and first since 2022. "It is really special to win here on the Champs-Elysees once again and on the first occasion we climbed to Montmartre. "The rain made it quite sketchy but I managed to stay upright. I had the full support of my team and I really have to thank them, to keep believing in me over and over again... "Going into the last climb, to leave it all out there was our plan and it worked." Pogacar sat up to safely bring home the yellow jersey and beat his rival Jonas Vingegaard by a final margin of four minutes and 24 seconds, moving level with Chris Froome on four titles, one shy of the record jointly held by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain and Jacques Anquetil. "I'm just speechless to win a fourth Tour de France, six years in a row on the podium," the 26-year-old Pogacar said. "This one feels especially amazing and I'm super proud I can wear this yellow jersey. "I found myself in the front even though I didn't really have the energy to motivate myself to race today. I was really happy they neutralised the times in the GC, then it was more relaxed to race. I found myself in the front but hats off to Wout, he was incredibly strong." German Florian Lipowitz finished third overall, some 11 minutes down on Pogacar and one minute 12 seconds ahead of 22-year-old Scot Oscar Onley who has enjoyed a breakout Tour. On the 50th anniversary of the first Champs-Elysees finish, the Tour returned to the French capital after last year's enforced absence due to the Olympics. Race organisers had been inspired by those Games to add the climb to this day and were rewarded with a dramatic finish.
RTÉ News
13 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Wout Van Aert wins in Paris as Tadej Pogacar secures yellow jersey, Ben Healy finishes ninth in Tour de France
Tadej Pogacar celebrated his fourth Tour de France title in Paris but was denied what would have been a stunning final stage victory as Wout van Aert rode away on the wet cobbles of Montmartre to win on the Champs-Elysees. Ben Healy concluded his breakthrough Grand Tour without drama, securing his ninth place finish in the general classification - just over 28 minutes behind Pogacar but with a 4'40" cushion on 10th place Ben O'Connor as times were neutralised due to the dangerous, wet conditions. The Irish EF Education-EasyPost rider had earlier been given the Super Combativity award for his performances during the tour. Pogacar looked keen to take what could prove to be a unique opportunity to win in yellow in Paris as the introduction of three ascents of the climb to Montmartre reshaped the usual final day procession into the capital, but Van Aert broke clear on the last time up to take the glory. Although the general classification times had been neutralised in the soggy conditions, Pogacar still had to finish to secure his title yet was willing to risk it all on the greasy cobbles in pursuit of a fifth stage win of this Tour. The Slovenian, 26, attacked each time up the narrow climb to whittle down a leading group to just a handful of riders, but had no response when Van Aert made his move 400 metres from the summit of the final ascent, winning solo by 19 seconds from Davide Ballerini. Pogacar (below) sat up to safely bring home the yellow jersey and beat his rival Jonas Vingegaard by a final margin of four minutes and 24 seconds, moving level with Chris Froome on four titles, one shy of the record jointly held by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain and Jacques Anquetil. German Florian Lipowitz finished third overall, some 11 minutes down on Pogacar and one minute three seconds ahead of 22-year-old Scot Oscar Onley who has enjoyed a breakout Tour. On the 50th anniversary of the first Champs-Elysees finish, the race returned to the French capital after last year's enforced absence due to the Olympic Games. Race organisers had been inspired by incredible scenes in Montmartre during those Games to add the climb to this day and totally shake up the complexion of the usual parade into Paris. The route change left potential for time gaps at the finish, but with heavy rain falling organisers announced general classification times would be taken earlier in the stage to remove the peril. After the usual photoshoots on the approach to the capital, the race was on as soon as they hit the Champs-Elysees for the first time before really exploding on the first time up the climb.
