19/02/2026
The greatest compliment one can pay a person is to say that they made a positive difference in the lives of others. It is with deep sadness that Ballina Cycling Club offers that compliment to our dear friend and club member, Mattie Coleman, and extends our sincerest condolences to the Coleman family on his passing last Tuesday.
While Mattie’s achievements as an athlete were many, it was his extraordinary ability to encourage and uplift others through sport that truly set him apart. A latecomer to cycling, he inspired so many, proving time and again that age is just a number. His journey showed what determination, passion, and belief can achieve at any stage of life.
Whether it was a quiet word of encouragement on a Sunday spin or his tireless work behind the scenes organising countless events — charity cycles, duathlons and cyclocross, to mention just a few, Mattie’s positivity and unwavering belief in the unifying power of sport were infectious. Nothing was ever a problem for Mattie. How many times over the years did we hear him say, “That’s sorted,” whenever something needed to be done?
Over the past year, Mattie brought the same resilience and strength that made him such a formidable competitor on the bike to his brave battle with illness. He faced it with remarkable courage and humility. One thing is certain — he is at the top of the mountain now, smiling down on us all.
A true gentleman in every sense of the word, Mattie will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis
