HE DIED DOING WHAT HE LOVED

Stephen Larkin, originally from Laurencetown, crashed during practice for the Kells Road Races in County Meath on Saturday evening and later died in Dublin's Beaumont Hospital.

The 27-year-old, who lived with his wife Katherine and three young children in Gilford, had just won his first race last month and even wrote on his Facebook page of his pride at the long-awaited victory.

Stephen's uncle Fergie Larkin said his nephew, who worked as a chief engineer in the Audi garage in Portadown, had two priorities in life.

"Stephen would be somebody who lived for his bikes, and his wife and children," said Mr Larkin.

"As far as I'm aware he never took a drink or smoked. He never would've turned his tongue. He was just a gentle giant."

The racer's body was expected back to his home last night (Monday) ahead of a funeral tomorrow (Wednesday) which is expected to draw large crowds, as well as bikes and racers from all across the country.

Stephen, the youngest of three siblings, was the beloved son of Gerard and Bernadette Larkin and father to seven-year-old Aaron, four-year-old Megan, and Callum, aged one.

Tributes have come pouring in since the popular man's sudden death.

One person writing on Facebook said, "R.I.P stephen, you will be missed by so many people. Can't believe you're gone. It's such a shame you were taken from us all."

Meanwhile local parish priest, Father Martin McDonagh, added his thoughts to the growing list of tributes for Stephen.

"Stephen was very popular in the local community and very good humoured and that lent through into his bike racing," he said.

"He died doing what he loved to do and he was fully aware of the risks involved in the sport. I found it quite interesting to learn that Stephen and his wife had often talked about what would happen if something did happen to him."

Drawing comparisons from the tragic incident in Co. Donegal when eight people lost their lives in a car crash Father McDonagh added, "Just as the people of Donegal did, the local community have been supporting Stephen's family. The entire parish sends their condolences to his family.

"Somebody said in relation to the Donegal crash that people are very fragile in a car - people are even more fragile on a bike."

Requiem mass will be celebrated at noon tomorrow (Wednesday) in the Church of St John the Evangelist in Gilford, with burial in St Patrick and St Colman Cemetery in Laurencetown.

Meanwhile Upper Bann MLA John O'Dowd has expressed his sympathy to the family of Stephen Larkin.

"Stephen was a member of a well known Laurencetown family and his death is a tragedy not only for his immediate family but for the wider Tullylish Community," said Mr O'Dowd.

"I would like to express my personal condolences to Stephen's wife Katherine and his immediate family."