Shock and sadness in Laois following workplace death

There is a deep sense of shock and sadness in Portlaoise following the death of a popular father of two in a workplace accident. 

Mark Walsh, who was in his early 40s, died following a workplace accident in Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath on Monday. 

The immensely popular father lived in Esker Hills in Portlaoise with his wife and two young children. He was originally from Daingean in Co Offaly. 

Mr Walsh had previously worked in the Portlaoise Leisure Centre for around ten years. He was very well known and liked in the community, said Cllr Marie Tuohy, who worked alongside Mr Walsh at the Leisure Centre.

“He was very well known. He was front of house there and he had a great relationship with us and customers,” Cllr Tuohy said. 

“A few of us who worked with him met yesterday, it was just devastating, hard to take,” said Cllr Tuohy. 

She said there “will be an awful lot of sadness” in the town following his death. “He would be extremely well known and very popular,” said Cllr Tuohy. 

She said he has “two lovely children that he absolutely adored”, Fiadh and Daniel and his wife Clare Ann who is a nurse. She described them as “great people in every way”. 

“They have the love and support of anybody who ever came across them,”  said Cllr Tuohy. 

The Health and Safety Authority(HSA) is investigating the tragedy. 

“The HSA are aware of this incident and have launched an investigation, as such no further information is available at this time,” a spokesperson said.