O'Connell, James
January 26, 2013A stalwart of London's Irish community has died while visiting the US. James O'Connell, 72, suffered a heart attack in New York on January 8 and was in a coma until he passed away on Saturday January 19.
The Kerryman had initially travelled to New York from Florida, where he was on holiday with his family to attend the funeral of his brother-in-law. Mr O'Connell's daughter Fiona, 23, told The Irish Post that despite the tragic circumstances, her father had "a beautiful end to his beautiful life". He died surrounded by family, including his wife Elizabeth and four adult children.
"But this was definitely before his time," Ms O'Connell said. She added that her family was deeply grateful for the support received and for the care given to her father at Elmhurst Hospital Centre in New York. Mr O'Connell came to London from his native Portmagee, Co. Kerry in the late '50s. During his time in Britain, the property developer was a major figure in the Irish community playing football for CuChulainns GAA and serving as secretary of the Kerry Association for over five years in the '60s.
He was heavily involved in the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain for a number of years, producing several music concerts at Wembley Conference Centre with headline acts such as Daniel O'Donnell, Mary Black and Phil Coulter. Mr O'Connell was also a founder member of St Kiernan's GAA club in 1985 and had remained heavily involved with the club. "James was a hugely supportive and hard-working man. He was deeply religious, a good friend and was hugely popular in the Irish community," said Ned O'Keefe, chairman of London's GAA golf society, of which Mr O'Connell was the secretary for the past 10 years.
He added: "He also played a lead role in organising our annual dinner dance, which has now been postponed as a mark of respect. The former Mayor of Brent Jim O'Sullivan, who is the godfather of Mr O'Connell's son James, told The Irish Post: "I find it very hard to accept that that good man is with us no longer. James was one of the best people I had the pleasure of knowing." The family expects to hold a mass for James O'Connell at St Anthony of Padua Church in Edgware at 11am on January 26.
Mr O'Connell will then be repatriated to his native Co. Kerry for burial on January 29.
Courtesy of The Irish Post. Tweet
