THE COMMUNITIES of Oulart and Monamolin were in deep shock this week as news emerged of the sudden passing of 41 year-old father of one David O’Brien.

David had been working on the continent and was travelling home on the ferry from France when he passed away, leaving behind a devastated wife and daughter. A painter and decorator by trade, David had been busy working in the Netherlands and was travelling back on Irish Ferries from Cherbourg, looking forward to being reunited with his family, when he suffered a heart-attack on board. The ship was off the coast of England when David took a turn for the worst and staff on board did everything they could for him. The Coast Guard helicopter was sent for, but unfortunately David passed away before they could reach him.

The son of Jack and Anne O’Brien, David was originally from the Monamolin area before he settled at 16 Mayview Park in Oulart with his beloved wife Yvonne and his daughter Katie who is a secondary school student in Kilmuckridge.

Childhood sweethearts, David had known Yvonne all his life having grown up a few doors away from each other, and the pair were about to celebrate their 17th wedding anniversary.

“We’ve known each other forty years,” said heartbroken wife Yvonne. “He lived six doors away from me in Monamolin. He was a real family man and a great father. He absolutely adored myself and our daughter Katie. He was absolutely loved in the local community here and everyone had a good word to say about him.”

For more, see this week’s Enniscorthy Echo.

The late David O’Brien with his loving wife Yvonne and daughter Katie.