Firemen pay tribute to their 'Rock'

Member of Cavan fire service, past and present, flocked to pay their respects to the late Patrick 'Rock' O'Reilly.
Father-of-five Mr O'Reilly died suddenly at Cavan General Hospital last month, September 22, and was laid to rest at Cullies Cemetery following his funeral mass at the Cathedral of Ss Patrick & Felim on Wednesday, September 26.
There was a poignant moment as Mr O'Reilly's remains were transferred from the McMahon Funeral Home on Farnham Road to the Cathedral, as several dozen service members lined up to salute their former colleague with a guard of honour.

Mr O'Reilly (55), of Golf Links Road, Cavan Town, had over 20 years of service working with Cavan Fire Service.
A keen golfer, who in recent years had earned licences to pilot both aircraft and helicopters, Mr O'Reilly had only stepped down from his role as station officer in Cavan in July, but carried on his duties working as fitter and mechanic with all the vehicles.
Joey McDonald, who subsequently took over the rank of station officer, described Mr O'Reilly as a “father figure” for many who entered the service. “I'm there almost 14 years but I remember when I first started, my first day you knew [Mr O'Reilly] was a man to have respect for.”
Mr McDonald added that Mr O'Reilly used his skills to train others on the job, and took great pride when driving members to and from incident scenes safely.
He said he did not know where the nickname 'Rock' came from, but considering the role Mr O'Reilly played in the lives of many, Mr McDonald said it fit.

Mr McDonald told The Anglo-Celt: “It’s hard to lose a working colleague, especially one with a character like Rock was. He was man who was here every day. You turn around and he's there beside you. Now, all of a sudden he's gone and it’s something we all have to deal with together. It’s a big gap to fill, he was very close to a lot of firemen up there.”
Son of the late John and Bridget O'Reilly, Mr O'Reilly is survived by sons Andrew, Patrick, Dylan and Jamie; his daughter Jade; adored grandson Nicholas; brothers Breffni and John; sisters Evelyn, Bernadette, Helen, Philomena, Geraldine, Pamela, Noleen and Mary Jane; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; nephews,; nieces; his colleagues in County Cavan Fire Service; all his relations and many friends.