Untimely death of Danny O'Brien shocks Trim community

Next week, Danny O'Brien was due to take to the stage with Trim Drama Group, in Arthur Miller's 'Death of A Salesman'. He was to play the part of Ben Lohan, who came back from the dead as a vision, to his brother, Willie Lohan, the main character in the play. Poignantly, it will now be Danny O'Brien's spirit, rather than Ben Lohan's, who will be watching over Trim Drama Group. The former Labour Party town councillor died suddenly at his workplace, Trim Family Resource Centre, at Mornington Heights, last Wednesday, causing widespread shock. He was just 56 years of age, and while he had undergone major heart surgery in recent years, he had apparently returned to good health. Mr O'Brien was well-known for his involvement in local organisations and groups, particularly cultural groups, and served two terms as a Labour town councillor. His passion was photography, which he pursued right up to his death. It was this community involvement which saw him approached by the Labour Party to run for it in the 1999 local elections. He had already turned down an approach by both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, but felt that Labour was closer to his socialist ideals. Mr O'Brien was elected in that poll, and in the subsequent election. He served two terms as chairman of the council, and the body held a special meeting in his memory last week. He had a dislike of playing politics and preferred to be able to help individuals with issues and problems. During his tenure as chairman, he opened the new bridge on Mill Street in the town, and also was responsible for proposing Finnegan's Way as the name for the new town centre street, an achievement of which he was very proud. Health issues forced him to take a step back but he went canvassing with his son, Donall, and was delighted to see him elected to the council in 2009. His work as manager of the Family Resource Centre saw him in contact with a wide variety of community and family support groups around the town as he facilitated them at Mornington Heights. Mr O'Brien was an award-winning actor for his role in amateur productions. He was involved in over 20 productions with Trim Drama Group since 1987, either directing or acting, and won AIMS awards for Best Actor and Best Overall Performance for his role in 'Fiddler on the Roof' with Trim Musical Society. When John B Keane passed away in 2002, Trim Drama Group was staging 'The Field', with Mr O'Brien as The Bull McCabe, and they were invited to perform it live in the Square in Listowel that weekend. Mr O'Brien worked for a period as a professional photographer, covering weddings and such events, but it was his hobby of amateur photography in recent years that gave him the most satisfaction and enjoyment. He set up a website, Porchfield.com. "You are very welcome to my little corner of the internet," he wrote on it. "I set this blog up to simply keep a record of my photography on public view. I hope it survives long after I am gone." Last week, at the Easter Balloon Festival in Trim, Mr O'Brien photographed the hot air balloons from all angles, including from the air when he travelled up in a balloon himself. Celebrating his funeral Mass last week, Fr Mark Mohan, CC, Trim, spoke of Mr O'Brien's "passions of hot air ballooning and politics - someone said to me there's not much difference!" One of Mr O'Brien's shots of Croke Park has been used all over the world, including on the GAA Croke Park website. He also won a photography competition in the Irish Times for his shot of two gannets feeding on mackerel. His great love was Valentia Island in Co Kerry, where he and wife, Phil, regularly visited, and where he would have loved to live. Tributes have been flowing into Mr O'Brien on websites such as porchfield.com, pix.ie and flickr.com, as well as boards.ie, and photowalk.ie, a group that he recently hosted in Trim for a photo walking tour. Mr O'Brien was an accomplished musician, and could play both drums and guitar, and often accompanied Gerry Tully in Brogan's on harmonica. He was a supporter of Leeds United. Mr O'Brien, who lived at Eldergrove, Trim, was born in Limerick and grew up in Lanesboro, Co Longford. Educated at boarding school in Kilkenny, he later worked with Irish Nationwide in Dublin. He is survived by his wife, Phil; son, Donall; daughter, Kate; mother, Peig, Trim; brother, Willie, Scurlogstown, Trim; sisters, Mary, Shannon, Co Clare, and Mary-Theresa, also Shannon; in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and other relatives to whom sympathy is extended in their loss. At his funeral Mass last week, a camera, script, harmonica and family photograph were in place on the altar. Members of Trim Town Council were joined by the chairs of Navan and Kells town councils, Cllr Joe Reilly and Cllr Brian Curran, in a guard of honour at Friday morning's funeral. Cllr Tommy Grimes of Kells Town Council is a brother-in-law of Mr O'Brien, and also joined the guard of honour. Also providing guards of honour were Trim drama and musical groups. The attendance included Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, Senator Dominic Hannigan, Emmet Stagg TD, former Attorney General John Rogers, SC, and former EU Commissioner and government minister, Michael O'Kennedy. Fr Mohan, whose homily on Mr O'Brien was subject to a sustained round of applause befitting a man of theatre, was assisted by Fr David Cahill, Salesian Order, Warrenstown. Burial followed at St Loman's Cemetery, Trim, where the present town council chairman, Cllr Ray Butler, delivered a tribute. Trim Drama Group has rescheduled its production of 'Death of A Salesman' to 14th and 15th May at Solstice, Navan, and 22nd and 23rd May in Trim, with Kevin Shelly taking over the role of Ben Lohan.