Joe the Yank

Shortly after seeing Sean Kelly in the Nissan Classic as a spotty teenager I decided that I wanted a piece of the action, so realising that I better start doing a few local races first, before the Tour de France, I was invited along by Joe Lonergan to a training spin with his son Bernard. There are a few different Lonergan families in Ardfinnan so they each have a nickname, partly to help the local postman. Joes’ father went to the States once so they became the Yank Lonergans. I’m not sure how the Boxer Lonergans got their name.

I had known Bernard from the scouts in Ardfinnan and he had started doing a few races with John Wall from Cahir, so off we set one sunny autumn Sunday morning with Joe leading the way. He knew more about cycling than any encyclopaedia and was happy to help out a few young fellas on their way into the sport.

Joe was a true man of the Ras, or man of respect, as it would be known if he was an Italian living in New York. He had won a stage into Castleisland back when men could work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week on a building site and then go off on Sunday and race anything up to 250k. The stage that Joe won was 135 miles (218 kilometers) and it was a brutal affair. An indication of the level that Joe raced at can be seen in those who finished in the top 5 behind him on the day, including names like Shay O’Hanlon and Dermot Dignam.

Joe rarely spoke of his success, a humble and solid man who felt no need to impress anyone, he let his actions do the talking. However he would generously pass on knowledge gained from being on the business end of many top races, and if you took it on board success was sure to follow.

Joe and his wife Mary lived for cycling. Many of the happiest memories of my teenage years revolve around trips to races in far flung places like Ennis or Kanturk in the back of the white Peugeot 305 alongside Bernard, John Wall and the late PJ Power. Mary would have a big bag of sandwiches and flask of tea for all of us to share. During the race Joe would drive behind with spare wheels and Mary would open up the sunroof and stand up where she could keep an eye on what was happening and relay the information on to Joe. On more than one occasion her encouragement made the difference when the racing was getting hard.

One morning Bernard rang to say that they were going over to the Vee to watch the Ras pass by. I told my mother that I would be back in an hour and pedalled over to their house.

The white Peugeot parked up just past the hairpin bend and we waited for the race. There was no helicopter to signal its arrival but a few motorbikes and lead cars created a great sense of anticipation. Then along came a breakaway group. Joe spotted one of its members immediately. ‘There’s Anthony’ he proclaimed. And sure enough there was Anthony O’Gorman, the baker from Clonmel. We couldn’t go straight home now. As soon as the bunch passed we were back in the 305 and heading off in the opposite direction from home. Part of me was panicking that my mother was expecting me back, whilst the other part of me was consumed by the total passion for the Ras, bike racing and cycling in general that Joe and Mary had. Joe was one of the founding members of Bianconi Wheelers when Anthony and Dick O’Gorman set the club up in Clonmel.

We ended up seeing the race pass in 3 or 4 different places along with the stage finish in Middleton. Anthony didn’t win on the day and it was dark when we got back to Ardfinnan so Joe put my bike in the boot of his car and drove me home. I have loved cycling ever since that day.

Joe always followed cycling, even though he excelled at Golf and fishing after hanging up his wheels, and wouldn’t miss a race that was taking place anywhere nearby. Himself and Mary would always be there. He even travelled up to Sligo last year for the National championships and was delighted to be one of the first to congratulate Conor Dunne on his fantastic victory.

His passion for the sport was passed on to his own family too. Bernard is a founder of South Tipp Cycling Club and the driving force behind getting kids involved. Grandson Jamie Barlow works with Trinity Sports Management and looks after riders such as Nico Roche, Sam Bennett, Taylor Phinney and Geraint Thomas amongst others.

Sadly Mary passed away suddenly just 6 weeks ago and in the early hours of yesterday Joe, who had been ill for a while, went to join her. It is a very sad time for their entire family, but the passion for life that they both shared, with not alone their family but with all who knew them will live on for many years to come.

Rest in peace Joe and Mary,

Barry

Funeral details :

Reposing at his residence in Marlhill, Ardfinnan on Friday, May 31st, from 4pm to 8pm. Removal on Saturday for 11.30am Mass in Ballybacon Church. Burial afterwards in adjoining cemetery.

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