Pa O’Dwyer 'always stood up for the underdog', funeral told
The coffin of Pa O’Dwyer is carried from St Mary’s Church, Rathkeale, Co Limerick. Picture: Chani Anderson
As the lyrics of Creed’s resonated through a church in Rathkeale, mourners paid a final farewell to Pa (Patrick) O’Dwyer, remembered as a “gentle giant” with an “infectiously loud” laugh.
In a packed St Mary’s Church in Rathkeale, friends, family, fans and neighbours paid their respects to the man fondly nicknamed the "Limerick Lion".
Nearly 4,000 mourners also joined online, a testament to the worldwide reach of a man who always “stood up for the underdog”.
The beloved strongman died suddenly on Saturday at the age of 40 after being brought to University Hospital Limerick’s emergency department, leaving behind his three children, Sienna, Rocco and Freddy, his partner Layna, and his parents and siblings.
Mr O’Dwyer held the title of Ireland’s Strongest Man five times. He also won the UK’s Strongest Man competition in 2018 and qualified for the World’s Strongest Man contest in 2020.
Mourners remembered Mr O’Dwyer through symbols placed near the altar, including his lifting straps, ukulele, one of his many trophies, and a framed family photograph. As a nod to his online motto, “You’re a c**t, a folded T-shirt also appeared at the altar — although the priest suggested it might not be “seen on camera”.
His brother Seán paid tribute on behalf of the family, first thanking staff at UHL’s emergency department, who cared for him in the early hours of Saturday, and strongman comrades who travelled long distances to attend.
Mr O’Dwyer described his brother as a man of many talents who came from “humble beginnings”, farming and turning turf in the bog alongside their father Seanie.
“He’s more than a son, a partner, a father, a brother, an uncle, a grandson, and a friend. He was also a builder, a bouncer, a fireman, an astronaut, and crucially, a tax avoider.
“Most of these of which are true,” his brother smiled. “He was also a man who enjoyed many a fine pinst and dedicated his life to the gym. He grew not only his ego, but also his arms, which led him to the world of strong men.”
Mourners heard how his dedication and drive led him to capture the title of Ireland’s Strongest Man a record five times, achieving what only “a few could ever dream of”.
Not long ago, Pa O’Dwyer received a message from the father of a young man, an interaction that perfectly summed up the Limerick Lion.
After being bullied at school, the young man joined a gym, gained confidence and made friends, inspired by Mr O’Dwyer — an experience that ultimately “changed his life”.
In response, Mr O’Dwyer replied that nothing would ever top “getting a message like this”.
According to his brother Seán, this “pretty much” summed him up as a “gentle giant who really cared about people”.
He continued: “Everything that made Patrick, who he was, the warmth of his presence, the sound of his voice, the care in his hands, the thoughts he shared has changed, but has not vanished. The world does not erase people, it carries them forward in different ways.”
Addressing his parents Lena and Seanie, he said they should know that “every bit of love, care, and effort they gave their outstanding son was never wasted and always reciprocated.”
He told his brother’s partner and children that they should know “love leaves marks that do not fade.”
“Every shared moment, every laugh, every story of bedtime, every quiet day together became part of who you are,” he said.
“We all carry pieces of him simply because we knew him. Every smile he gave, every word he spoke, every room he walked into, he left something behind. The people who know him are changed because of him and his family grieves his parent for their son, his siblings for their brother, his friends and teammates for their family. His fans and sponsors for their entertainer, and most importantly, his partner and children.”
Ending his tribute, he said: “He remains part of what comes next. If love could have saved you, you would've lived forever.”
Earlier in the service, a poem written by Treasa Coleman remembered Pa O’Dwyer as a “man to be admired” with an “infectiously loud” laugh.
As his partner Layna cried, his youngest son, Freddy, comforted her with a hug.
“He offered light to those who struggled, and those being bullied, he would always defend,” the poem read.
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