RIP Tonya McEvoy

As some of you will have heard, we tragically lost a member on a group spin this morning near Rathcoffey.

Tonya McEvoy started as one of our talented beginner women last summer and took to club cycling with a passion. Her sister told us that "cycling was a big part of her life and she loved every minute of it. She was so proud to be a part of Orwell Wheelers and wearing the colours".

She was on the bike every weekend she could, from the Wicklow 100 to the Tour of Meath to the Great Dublin Bike Ride, and even did a Christmas Day spin. I spoke to a few people about Tonya yesterday, and Declan Quigley's memory stood out:

It was so sad and shocking to hear of the tragic and untimely passing of Tonya.
I met her at the Orwell weekend away last October and she was great company at dinner and out on the spins in the weeks after that.
She was at the outset of her cycling odyssey and what shone through was her smiling, sunny disposition and her sheer joy at being out on the bike.
She immediately fitted in with the group and brought great energy and enthusiasm to the spins.
It's a terrible shock for all and my thoughts, and I'm sure those of all of us in the Orwell, are with her family and loved ones at this time. May she rest in peace.


Our deepest condolences are with her family - her parents Pat and Brian, her brothers Brian and Keith and sister Ciara. We remember also her friends and close clubmates, and thoughts to those also who were with her at the time of the accident.

Our heartfelt sympathies to all who knew her.

Funeral details:

Reposing at home on Tuesday from 4pm to 7pm. Funeral Mass on Wednesday in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church,Ballyboden at 11am. Burial immediately afterwards in Mount Venus Cemetery. May She Rest In Peace.

rip.ie/showdn.php?dn=313196/TonyaMCEVOY/Rathfarnham/Dublin

The club has been asked by the family to perform a guard of honour. If you are available, please be at the church from 10.45am on Wednesday morning.

Scott kit with long sleeves if you have it please, but all welcome. Please spread the word.

Tonya's name is now being mentioned in the media. Thank you all for respecting her privacy yesterday, and her family's. The shock of the day will be a lasting one.

The club has received many expressions of sympathy from across the cycling community - from other clubs and teams, and from plenty of individuals. We'll thank them all in due time.

Funeral details to follow.

The club has been asked by the family to perform a guard of honour. If you are available, please be at the church from 10.45am on Wednesday morning.

Scott kit with long sleeves if you have it please, but all welcome. If you have a spare top or two, please bring it along. And please spread the word.

While this thread is public, I thought it might be good to create a private space for anyone who wants to remember Tonya without fear of being quoted in the media:

www.orwellwheelers.org/forum/10-super-se...11-remembering-tonya

Just a reminder - the club will be performing a guard of honour before the mass. Meet at 10.45 outside the church, and then we will sit near the back of the church to do the same afterwards. We will also line up at the graveyard, though we understand that some people may not be in a position to join us there.

We will not be cycling in procession as part of the funeral cortège. Please spread the word.

Thank you to Sarah Grey for the suggestion of counselling.

I know the club have been supporting those directly affected last Sunday, but if anyone else wishes to meet with a counsellor, we have contact details for one who is familiar with the situation and with whom the club are working.

Please contact Denis or anyone on the committee and we will deal with this in confidence.

Please contact them, if you are distressed. Please. It won't serve you well if you don't deal with it.

Peace everybody,

Sarah

A reminder that this mass for Tonya is at 10.30am tomorrow morning in Rathcoffey Church. It's a normal Sunday mass for the parish, but there will be prayers at the accident site afterwards, followed by tea and sandwiches.

The priest has asked that anyone attending from Orwell be there about 10.15am. He may have reserved some rows for us.

It was great to see so many from the club out in force in Rathcoffey this morning, and we were also joined by a contingent from Clane Wheelers who wanted to show their support for the family and club.

Ciara has let me know that Tonya's months mind mass will be on Saturday 11th at 6.30pm in Ballyboden - same church as the funeral. The McEvoys have also kindly invited any Orwells to the house afterwards.