The Motorsport fraternity in Ireland and much further afield has been plunged into mourning following the tragic and untimely loss of World Rally Championship competitor Craig Breen. When I was growing up, it was the likes of Austin Mac Hale, Bertie Fisher and former RTE Sports presenter Michael Lyster – who drove in partnership with ex Galway hurler Joe Rabbitte – were the big names in Rallying in this country.

Perhaps the greatest endorsement of Breen’s standing in the sport – which stretched well beyond Ireland – is the fact that somebody like myself who by my own admission would be by no means properly attuned to goings on in the hair raising action, would have an awareness of the achievements of the Waterford man in his chosen sport.

Mind you, the outpouring of shock and sadness following the 33-year-old’s tragic passing in a testing accident in Croatia is surely testament enough to the esteem in which he was held in his sport and much further afield. On Twitter, his employers Hyundai Motorsport released the following statement:

Outside of the above, various figures in the Irish media – sporting and otherwise – were among the throngs to pay tribute across various social media outlets. RTE’s Motorsport mainstay John Kenny said – “Devastation beyond belief” with a tweet accompanied by the Hyundai statement, while former RTE reporter and Waterford native Damien Tiernan added

“RIP Craig Breen, interviewed him a lot of times, lovely chap, God love him and his family”.

At this point it will be admitted that this corner has an aversion to watching rallying due to the amount of tragedies seen and heard about therein. However, that doesn’t mean those who excel in their craft aren’t admired for what they do. Or indeed that empathy isn’t felt towards Craig’s family, friends, colleagues and many fans. As a GAA and horse racing ‘fan’ – to put it extremely mildly – it is a road travelled all too often. Sport unites with you in grief. May he Rest In Peace.