It is with great sadness that we announce the death of John Geoghegan, our highly-respected and dedicated sprints and hurdles coach.

John’s daughters Emily and Alice joined Donore as juveniles and competed in BLOE Track and Field events. John offered to help in the coaching of our young athletes. He attended AAI courses, moved swiftly through the various levels and achieved the highest coaching qualifications. He developed a very good group of boys and girls, who went on to become Dublin, national and schools’ champions. Some of them qualified to compete at European Junior level, several making finals.

John was pivotal in the club’s efforts to convince Dublin City Council of the need to develop a track for Donore Harriers. Following the laying of the track, John and his coaching team developed a young sprinters and hurdlers group, many of whom have since graduated to the senior ladies and men’s teams. John has been key in enabling our junior sprinters to become national senior medalists and internationals. In the space of ten years he has expanded the culture of the club from solely middle distance to include track and field.

John communicated with his athletes in a quiet manner, preparing meticulous training schedules, and supervising their implementation with praise and encouragement. He was adored by his athletes, who, through wet and dismal conditions, turned up loyally for training, knowing that John’s priority was to coach them to success.

The club has been fortunate over the years to have had brilliant coaches. John Geoghegan ranks with the best of them as a gentleman and an exceptional coach.

John will be greatly missed by us all.

Our condolences to his wife Oonagh, daughters Emily, Charlotte and Alice, mother Rita, siblings, relatives and friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.