A HUGELY popular and much-loved Killarney man, who lost a long and brave battle with cancer last October, will be remembered in a very special way by his pals this weekend.
The late Jeremy O’Neill was a passionate horseracing fan and one of the driving forces behind the successful Killarney Racegoers Club for several years.
In the latter years of his life he also enjoyed being part of small syndicates that purchased and bred horses to race and, famously, he was the inspiration behind the legendary Shattered Syndicate that created quite a colourful post-race presence in Killarney.
Some of Jeremy’s close friends have now joined forces to sponsor the third race, in his memory, on the opening day of the Killarney Racing Festival on Sunday.
They are to sponsor the €17,500 Jeremy O’Neill Memorial Hurdle as a tribute to the local businessman who passed away, prematurely, at the age of 58.
His pals are hoping that punters on the day will make a donation to the Cancer Research Clinical Research Trust which was a cause very close to Jeremy’s heart.
The last race on the card on Sunday will also be called the Cancer Clinical Research Trust flat race.
Jeremy, who owned and operated a busy souvenir, gift and fishing tackle store on Plunkett Street, was predeceased by his wife, Mary Jo. He is survived by his daughters Sinéad and Sarah Jane, son Denis, grandchildren Orna and Shéa, son-in-law Maírtín and other relatives and so many friends.
When his very own memorial race is over on Sunday, Jeremy’s racing buddies will undoubtedly raise a glass in his memory and the words of Fr Simon Twomey, who celebrated Jeremy’s Requiem Mass last October, will again spring to mind: “Can you just imagine the craic in heaven tonight?”
