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Limerick biker Mark given fond farewell after tragic accident claims his life
A GREEN Honda Fireblade motorcycle stood at the doorway to St Mary's Church in Croom this Wednesday as mourners filed past in their hundreds to bid a final farewell to its owner, Mark Dempsey.
The 32-year from Lisgreen, Croom, lost his life in a road accident in West Limerick on Sunday night.
Inside the church, family, friends and dozens of motorcycling enthusiasts, heard how the bike was Mark's pride and joy, used only on special occasions - a symbol of the recreation that gave him "the buzz in life".
"First he had the Suzuki and then the Honda Blade – or the Heineken Blade as it was affectionately known. It was only used on very special occasions like St Patrick Day," said Fr Joseph Kennedy, PP in his sermon.
Mourners – many of them spilled out into the churchyard – heard how Mark "so full of promise" with "so much to give" had his life cut short doing what he loved most, motorcycling.
"Going for a spin with the lads as he did last Sunday was his great form of recreation. Sadly, it was to be his last," said Fr Kennedy.
A lover of the great outdoors, Mark was riding a motorbike when it collided with a wall on the main road between Rathkeale and Shanagolden on Sunday evening.
The single-vehicle crash happened in the townland of Kilbradren at around 6pm.
Emergency services attended the scene for over an hour but he was pronounced dead at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital a short time later.
His unexpected death, Fr Kennedy said, had "hit us all with appalling sadness".
As Mark's coffin was removed from St Mary's Church, many friends from the motorcyling world, dressed in their leathers as a mark of respect, followed their friend to his final resting spot, Reilig Mhuire Cemetery.
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Weather for Limerick
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 8 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
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