'Rest easy soldier' - Former Army Commandant killed in Kerry crash remembered as 'pure gentleman'

Tributes have flooded in for a man in his seventies following his death in a road traffic collision on the Ring of Kerry on Thursday night.

Traolach Sweeney was named locally today, and was said to be a beloved member in his adopted community in Caherdaniel where he had lived for many years.

Traolach tragically lost his life in a collision on the Ring of Kerry at Coad near Caherdaniel shortly after 6pm on Thursday. Gardaí said he was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

He is survived by his wife Ina, as well as his two children Aisling and Peter.

Sweeney was an established member of the Defence Forces, having worked his way up the ranks from Captain to Commandant. He was a member of the 45th battalion and served for a time as a Commanding officer in Ballymullen in Tralee.

In his military career he was an Army Ranger and a French Interpreter. He was also a distinguished mountaineer have braved some of the toughest climbs around the world.

He spent much of his life in Kildare but growing up had spent time in Kerry too. His late father was a Colonel in the Army and the family holidayed in The Glen.

Traolach was also a skilled abseiler and scuba diver, both skills which served him well in the Defence Forces, as well as a talented violin player.

Diarmuid O'Briain, a former defence forces member, described Traolach as a "visionary pioneer in local broadband", as he was well-known locally in Kerry as a founder of SCC broadband (Sneem Castlecove Caherdaniel), providing broadband to the rural area – many years before multi-nationals were doing so.

Describing Traolach's hard work and dedication to his community, O'Briain described how the former army commandant took on the task of addressing the problem, "suffering the frustration of no broadband on the Iveragh Peninsula and having little to no knowledge of broadband or telecoms". 

"He was determined to learn and this determination and quick learning enabled him to build a local network. He built a remarkable wind and solar-powered radio gateway on a Kerry mountain as a backhaul to another provider on the Beara Peninsula.

This groundbreaking project brought broadband to the previously unconnected peninsula. His military background proved invaluable as he "pushed the boundaries of what was achievable", meticulously carried every component up the mountain over several weeks.

Traolach was remembered fondly by those who knew him as a "gentleman with a big heart".

A Belgian woman who worked with Traolach in a team of election observers in Chad recalled that the pair work in "very difficult conditions", but said Traolach "was so kind and helpful to me". 

Many others remembered the "great times" spent with the character, who was said to be "a truly heartwarming person".

Diarmuid O'Briain said his contributions to the community "will be deeply missed", as will "his camaraderie with former military colleagues".

"His duty, both to the Defence Forces and to the community on the Iveragh Peninsula is done. Rest easy soldier."

Funeral details are yet to be announced.