Holly, Aidan

July 10, 2008
There has been shock and an outpouring of grief in Tarbert this week with news that a local man died following a fall in Spain. Aidan Holly (23) died when he fell from a 90ft wall while attending the famous bull run festival in Pamplona on Sunday. The wall is a vantage point used by tourists during the bull run. Last year an American tourist and his Spanish girlfriend died when they fell from the same place. Aidan, who was described as a fun loving and popular young man, joined the Defence Forces in July 2007 and was assigned lo the 4th Infantry Battalion at Collins Barracks, Co. Cork. gHe had travelled extensively, backpacking all over the world before embarking on a career in the army. This week the community in Tarbert are rallying around Aidan's parents, Marie and Con, a supervisor with Kerry Ingredients in Listowel, and their sons David and Conor and daughter Orla. 'The community is devastated following the tragic death of Aidan who lived in Chapel Street. We, as a community, are rallying around his family at this difficult time," said parish priest of Tarbert, Father Francis Nolan. "The Hollys are well liked and respected in Tarbert and our hearts go out to them. We have no idea of funeral arrangements but we understand he is to have a military funeral." Chairman of Tarbert GAA club, Paddy Creedon summed up the feeling in the community saying Tarbert is shell shocked at the death of Mr. Holly. "Aidan was a talented player with the club at underage level and played a key role in teams right up to Junior grade. "He was a loyal follower of the club and lived close to the GAA field. Former players who played with him are devastated and our prayers and thoughts are with his family at this dark hour," Paddy Creedon said. On May 2007 Aidan spent 41 days cycling around Ireland covering over 3,291 Km. FOver the past five years, the Tarbert nalive has travelled the world. oHe recorded his adventures on his Bebo site and included his trip to the Oktoberfest Beer Festival in Munich. kTwo months ago he came second in the annual cheese rolling competition at Coopers Hill in Gloucestershire. Aidan also took a 12-day road trip around the West Coast of the US with four friends. He described his greatest ambition as attending the world air guitar championships in Oulu, Finland. The Tarberl nalive had travelled to Pamplona in Northern Spain last Friday. Courtesy of Kerry's Eye, 10/07/2008

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