ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Lieutenant Lorcán O’Rourke, Moorefield Park, Newbridge, County Kildare on 26th August 2023. Lorcán passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family in the care of the staff in the Lynn Ward, Tallaght University Hospital, after a long illness borne with great dignity. Predeceased by his son Ciarán and his brother Brian. Beloved husband of Phil (née Brereton) and loving father of Aoife and Enda, and doting Grandad to Donal, Bláthnaid, Tess and Clodagh. Lorcán will be sorely missed and lovingly remembered by his adoring family, brothers Fr. Caoimhín SJ, Fran, Gerard and Seán, sisters Mary and Anne, daughter-in-law Éadaoin and her sons Cillian and Dáire, Aoife’s partner Dave, daughter-in law-Catherine, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family members, neighbours and a large circle of friends in the local community, The Defence Forces, Kildare GAA, Moorefield GAA club, Croke Park and Irish Handball.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis
Lorcán O’Rourke was born in 1946 in Dunlavin, County Wicklow, where his father was a teacher in the local National School. He enlisted in the Defence Forces on 19th October 1964 as a member of 39 Cadet Class, was commissioned on 26th September 1966 into the Infantry Corps, and posted to 4 Infantry Battalion, Collins Barracks Cork. A talented hurler and footballer, Lorcán was a member of the Cadet School hurling team that won the Chaplains’ Cup in 1966. During the same year he was a member of the Kildare team that won the All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship played at Glebe Farm, Birmingham against Warwickshire. Lorcán also served in the NCO School in the Curragh Command and overseas with 9 Infantry Group, UNFICYP in Cyprus from October 1967 to March 1968. Leaving the Defence Forces in 1968, Lorcan studied at All Hallows, UCD and Saint Patrick’s College Dublin, qualifying as a National Teacher. Lorcán taught in Clane National School and in the Centre of Education in the Racing Apprentice School in Kildare. In 1980 he was appointed GAA Development Officer in Croke Park. He was later Personnel Officer there, and then National Administrator for Handball for some twenty years before retiring.
Removal to Saint Conleth’s Parish Church, Newbridge on Wednesday 30th August, arriving at 6pm. Funeral Mass on Thursday morning at 11am. Burial afterwards in Saint Conleth’s Cemetery, Newbridge. The family would be grateful if people attending the removal or funeral could observe good Covid practice please.
Mass can be viewed on https://newbridgeparish.ie/parish-church
Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, to the Irish Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.ie/ways-to-help/donate
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Lorcán’s death notice on rip.ie – https://rip.ie/death-notice/lorcan-orourke-kildare-newbridge-527917
