A young Limerick student who died while on holiday in Greece will be laid to rest today.
Tragic Niall O'Brien was on holiday with a group of friends when he died from serious head injuries following an alleged altercation with another man.
It is alleged Mr O’Brien was punched and “hit his head as he fell on the ground”. He died later in hospital.
Mr O’Brien was a star hurler with Broadford GAA in South East Clare, and a member and employee of Castletroy Golf Club in Limerick.
He will be laid to rest in Broadford following a funeral mass this afternoon in Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Milford.
The Irishman killed while on holiday fell and hit his head after allegedly being punched during a drunken row, reports from Greece say.
Niall, from Castletroy, played for Broadford Hurling Cub in Clare who said they were “in deep mourning at the sad passing of one of our great characters”.
The online tribute added: “The club would like to offer their deepest condolences to Mike, Anne, Cian, Eoin, Alan and the O’Brien and Boyce families.
“Niall, along with his three brothers, has given great service to Broadford Hurling club.
“Niall has played all grades with the club, having only lined out for a win with our adult teams as recently as last week.
“Niall was seen as an extremely talented prospect and we will never forget his man-of-the-match-winning performance when scoring 1-11 to win the U21 B county final in 2019.”
The statement revealed O’Brien was about to begin his fourth and final year of college at University of Limerick in financial maths. It continued: “Niall’s large circle of friends will remember him as a hugely popular, larger than life character. Niall was at the centre of every gathering, whether it be sporting or socially, and his good humour and witty comments kept everybody entertained.
“Both Broadford and Monaleen will be a much sadder place without him.”
