Plaque unveiled to commemorate athletes who died in Ironman in Youghal

Brendan Wall and Ivan Chittenden died during the swim section of the event after entering choppy waters with fellow athletes last August

Members of the Hyland Family from Ireland, Canada, and USA at the unveiling of a memorial plaque for the late Ivan R Chittendan and Brendan Wall on Youghal Strand. Picture: Howard Crowdy

A memorial plaque commemorating two athletes who lost their lives during the swim section of Ironman Cork has been unveiled at Youghal’s Front Strand.

A crowd of more than 300 people gathered at the spot where Meath-born Brendan Wall (45) and Ivan Chittenden (65), from Toronto, had entered choppy waters alongside more than 2,000 fellow athletes last August.

Among those in attendance were Mr Wall’s fiancé Tina Mackay, who travelled from Britain, his parents Oliver and Gertie, and sister Maria O’Connor, who lives in Youghal.

Mr Chittenden’s wife Siobhán Hyland and his stepson Jack were amongst a party of about 25 that arrived from the US and Canada for the ceremony.

Emergency service personnel, some of whom had strived to save the athletes on the day, were among a wide range of people from the community to offer support and respect.

The plaque unveiled in memory of Ivan R Chittendan and Brendan Wall who lost their lives during the Ironman event in Youghal last year. Picture: Howard Crowdy

Locals had commissioned the plaque from Youghal firm Budds Memorials Ltd, with the unveiling ceremony conducted by community radio presenter Tommy Collins.

Clergymen Canon Tom Browne, Canon Bill Bermingham, and Rev Andrew Orr offered prayers for the men, whom Canon Brown described as “too precious to lose and too priceless to ever be replaced”.

Family testimonies brought to light the lives and personalities behind the deceased.

Tina reflected on a man that she had been due to marry last month and who had “lived his life surrounded by love”.

She said Brendan had prioritised family and made “many, many friends”.

She said she found it “an absolute privilege” to speak of Brendan and thanked the entire Youghal community for the “love, support and solidarity” that had helped the families “to heal, to progress, and hopefully to ensure that lessons may be learned".

Siobhán spoke of Ivan being “an amazing stepfather” to her young children, Jack and Kate, with whom he had nurtured “a very special bond”.

MC Tommy Collins speaking at the unveiling of a memorial plaque for the late Ivan R Chittendan and Brendan Wall on Youghal Strand. Picture: Howard Crowdy

She had accompanied him on many races worldwide but he loved Ireland and they had planned to acquire a place for more frequent visits amongst her Irish roots.

Next October would have been their 10th wedding anniversary.

Maria acknowledged all who had supported the families, as lone piper Christy McCarthy led the families to the water’s edge, where two wreaths were set afloat.

Last month, inquests into the deaths of the two men opened at Midleton Courthouse.

Cork South Coroner Frank O'Connell adjourned the inquests until September 24, when he said he hoped he would be able to give a date for when the full hearings would take place.

Legal representatives for Ironman and Triathlon Ireland were present at the hearing but Mr O'Connell said the inquest would not be concerned with any controversies about the organisation of the event or "who said what to whom" amid a dispute over the decision to proceed with the swim. 

Mr O'Connell said the inquests would focus on when, where, and how the deaths occurred.