The Athletics World has been saddened by the sudden passing of Pat Hooper, father of Dave Hooper, head of sport with us here at Shannonside/Northern Sound.
The Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club member and Treasurer, represented Ireland at the 1980 Moscow Olympics in the marathon.
It later years he was heavily involved in coaching as well as launching the Raheny 5 mile, the Lord Mayor Series and the Battle of Clontarf 10 mile.
Many tributes have been paid to Pat from across the Athletic world, with Raheny club member Sean Mc Goldrick remarking that the "word legend is often bandied about, but Pat Hooper was the real deal. We will never see the like of him again".
May he rest in peace.