Tributes are paid to Cork chef following his death on Mount Kilimanjaro climb

CORK chef James O’Connor has been remembered as a “friend to all” following his death while attempting to summit Mount Kilimanjaro this week.

Mr O’Connor, who was a chef at Tony’s Bistro on North Main Street in Cork city, had set himself a goal to reach the summit of Tanzania’s highest peak on his 40th birthday.

After setting out to reach his goal on Tuesday, Mr O’Connor suffered a heart attack just a few hundred feet from the summit and passed away.

Mr O’Connor was remembered by his brother Jonathan, who manages Tony’s Bistro, as an “amazing brother, legendary chef, super dad, husband and friend to all”.

Speaking to The Echo following his brother’s death, Jonathan O’Connor said: “James passed away yesterday [Tuesday] morning a couple of hundred feet from the summit of Kilimanjaro.

“It was his dream to summit it on the morning of his 40th birthday along with his dear friend and travel companion Alan.

“He was a true inspiration to all of us. James lived life to the max and always had the sunny side up. He will be sadly missed by his wife Grace, his children Christopher, Lily and James, his brothers and sisters Jonathan, Lorraine, Caitriona, Michelle and Jordan and nieces and nephews.” 

Tony’s Bistro remained closed on Wednesday and customers were asked to “please hold James in your thoughts as he makes his journey back home to us”.

People took to social media to share their condolences with the O’Connor family, with some remembering James as “inspirational”, “a dear friend” and “a true gentleman”.

The news comes over a year after the family lost their father John O’Connor Sr who, with his late wife Kathleen, founded Tony’s Bistro 28 years ago.

John O’Connor Sr passed away peacefully at the Mercy Hospital in March 2022.