Tributes paid as 'Ireland's strongest man', Patrick O'Dwyer, dies aged 40

Sean Ryan

Tributes have been paid to one of Ireland’s strongest men who passed away suddenly on Saturday, January 3rd.

Pa (Patrick) O’Dwyer, 40, from Rathkeale in Co Limerick, was a prominent figure in international strength sports.

Mr O'Dwyer, also known as the "Limerick Lion", held the title of Ireland’s Strongest Man an unprecedented five times. In 2018, he became only the second Irishman to win the UK’s Strongest Man competition.

He grew up working on a farm in Rathkeale. Through his early twenties, he worked on the roads before turning to weight training and building the impressive strength that established him as one of the best strongmen in Europe.

He rose through the ranks of the professional circuit, becoming a regular competitor on the Giants Live tour and qualifying for the World’s Strongest Man contest in 2020.

In addition to his sporting career, Mr O'Dwyer is remembered for providing much entertainment for strongman fans both on social media and television through not just his athletic skills, but also for his warm personality in his interviews and within his social media content.

Paying tribute, the Irish Strength Association said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Pa O'Dwyer this morning. Pa will be a massive loss to the strength community.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, especially his partner Layna, daughter, and two sons, Sienna, Rocco, and youngest Freddy.’’

No funeral arrangements have been made as yet.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help his family make arrangements for the funeral.