Latest news with #WildGeese
The Irish Sun
16-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Heartache as popular Irishman who was expecting third child to be repatriated home to family after tragic death in USA
AN Irishman who died tragically in the US will be repatriated to his family home in Co Donegal later today. Damien O'Brien, a married father-of-two young children, was killed after being 2 Damien O'Brien sadly passed away after being struck by a car in the US Credit: 2 Damien will be laid to rest on Friday Credit: GoFundMe A 21-year-old driver was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence. Damien, 35, and his wife Michelle were The deceased man moved to the He was a member of the Wild Geese READ MORE IRISH NEWS The company has launched a Damien has been remembered as "one of a kind" by heartbroken mourners who praised him as a "genuine and hardworking" man. A notice online said: "Damien is deeply regretted and sadly missed by his loving wife, Michelle, adoring sons Oscar and Luke, his parents Patricia and Bernard, parents-in-law, Pat and Patricia O'Connor, sisters Colleen and Róisin, brothers Stephen and Bernard, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, partners, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, colleagues and wide circle of friends." The Donegal man will repose at the home of his parents in Stoneybatter, Killygordon from 5pm today until 9pm and on Thursday from 1pm until 9pm. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN The Rosary will take place nightly at 9pm with family time on both nights from after the Rosary and on the morning of the funeral. Damien's Requiem Mass will take place at 12pm on Friday in St Patrick's Church in Killygordon, where Damien was baptised and received his First Communion and Confirmation. He will be buried afterwards in Cill Mhuire Cemetery in Glenfin. Damien's burial is strictly private for the O'Brien and O'Connor families only. Tributes have been pouring in for Damien since his passing earlier this month. 'LIFE IS BEYOND CRUEL' One mourner said: "Words will never express how much our hearts are broken with Damien's passing. Damien was more than a friend, he, Michelle and the boys were our family. "Not a day will go by when Damien will not be missed. "Rest in Peace Damo. You were one of a kind - loyal, smart, funny, and dependable. "The world is a lesser place for not having you in it. Love and miss you always." Another added: "I was shocked and saddened to hear of the untimely passing of Damien. I had the great pleasure of knowing DOB on the J1 in Hyannis in 2011. "Himself and Michelle were the Mammy and Daddy of the group; if there was ever an issue, Damien was the man to get it sorted. "We definitely called upon him and his colleagues P&P for advice on more than one occasion! He was a really genuine, hardworking and loyal guy. His love for Michelle was so clear for everyone to see. Life is beyond cruel, and I'm so unbelievably heartbroken for you all." Los Angeles Cougars Gaelic Football Club added: "Our deepest condolences to Michelle, Oscar, Luke and the entire O'Brien and O'Connor families as well as all those connected to the Orange County Wild Geese Club. "Damien was a great rival on the field and an even greater person off it. He will be forever missed by the whole GAA community in Southern California." Police officers said Damien was struck by a black Audi RS5 in the Huntington Beach area.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Wild Geese, Hyderabad's new lending library at Nallagandla hopes to attract young and adult readers
A spacious room on the second floor of an apartment complex in Nallagandla, Hyderabad, now houses a modest yet inviting lending library. Surrounded by greenery, the quiet neighbourhood allows for natural light and cross ventilation through multiple window panes. Wild Geese Library (@ named after the Mary Oliver poem, is only a few weeks old. A passion project by Sankeerthana, an avid reader and cinephile, it aims to welcome both young and adult readers. An engineer and former IT professional who later began writing about cinema, Sankeerthana had long dreamt of being surrounded by books. 'It was a romantic dream,' she says, referencing Meg Ryan's character in You've Got Mail, who runs a small independent bookstore. 'But a bookstore was beyond my budget; the next best thing was a lending library.' The idea took three years to take shape. She saved up, found a space in her neighbourhood, and Wild Geese was born. Her eight-year-old son, Vivaan Varma, helped her set up the collection — now over 5,000 books strong. Talking about the relevance of lending libraries, Sankeerthana says, 'When we buy books online, we tend to look for what we already know. A library gives you the chance to browse, get curious, take recommendations and discover something new.' She has observed this shift in her son too, who tends to read what is popular among his peers but becomes more open to other titles when browsing at the library. She hopes Wild Geese fosters the same curiosity in other readers. While a large portion of the collection caters to ages six to 18, there is enough to engage adult readers as well, with books in both English and Telugu. Some are from her personal library, while others were sourced from friends, family, and book fairs such as Abids Sunday Market and 'Lock the Box', as well as second-hand stores in Hyderabad. 'Even when buying pre-owned books, I avoid anything too worn out, and I never pick pirated editions,' she adds. Classics like The Famous Five and The Secret Seven by Enid Blyton, The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew,Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, and Tintin sit alongside titles like Winnie the Pooh, Keeper of the Lost Cities, How to Train Your Dragon, Geronimo Stilton, Wings of Fire, Percy Jackson, and books by Terry Pratchett. The Telugu collection was curated with help from Hyderabad-based Anvikshiki Publishers. Sankeerthana's reading journey began in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, with her father's books. Later, while studying engineering, she made regular use of her college library. 'Wild Geese is also a way for me to reconnect with the joy of reading,' she says. The library offers membership plans ranging from one to twelve months. Word-of-mouth is slowly spreading through community groups and residential complexes nearby. As the readership grows, Sankeerthana hopes to organise interactive reading and storytelling sessions to foster a deeper connection with books. (Wild Geese Library is at 202, Sai Orchids, Huda Layout, Nallagandla, Hyderabad. Email: Ph: 7075849255)
