Tributes pour in for ‘Ireland’s strongest man’ & father-of-three, 40, after ‘shock’ passing as ‘legend’ is hailed
Tributes flooded in from all over the world for the strength sports legend
PATRICK (Pa) O’Dwyer has sadly passed away as tributes flood in for the weightlifting legend.
O’Dwyer holds the records for most Ireland’s Strongest Man competitions won, with a whopping five.
The much-loved character was also the second ever Irishman to win the UK’s Strongest Man and earned the nickname the ‘Limerick Lion’ in the process.
He also attracted fans through his hilarious social media videos, amassing 630k Instagram followers for his both funny and serious content.
O’Dwyer posted as recently as two days before his sudden passing as fans mourned the loss in the comments.
The Strongman grew up on a farm in rural Ireland before starting to work on roads in his youth. O’Dwyer revealed in a 2023 interview with SunSport, he “ate close to 9,000 or 10,000 calories a day and each training session is four hours long.”
The Limerickman leaves behind his partner Layna and three kids Sienna, Rocco, and Freddy who he credits for driving him through much of his achievements. Tributes have flooded in for the strength sports legend.
The Irish Strength Association issued a statement following O’Dwyer’s passing, saying: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Pa O’Dwyer this morning.
“Pa, also known as the Limerick Lion, became the second Irishman in history to win the UK’s Strongest Man. He was a legend in strength sports in Ireland, winning Ireland’s Strongest Man an unprecedented five times. He went on to represent his beloved Ireland in the World’s Strongest Man.
“Pa will be a massive loss to the strength community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, especially his partner Layna, daughter, and two sons, Sienna, Rocco, and youngest Freddy.”
O’Dwyer left his mark on a global scale with tributes being paid on a worldwide level from the strength sport community.
Giants Live – the Official Strongman World Tour organisers – paid tribute to the late legend.
The tribute read: “Absolutely heartbroken to hear of the passing of Pa O’Dwyer. A true strongman, an even greater human being, and without doubt one of the funniest, most unforgettable characters the world has ever known.
“Pa brought strength, laughter, and warmth wherever he went. He truly was one of life’s larger-than-life personalities, and anyone who met him will surely have a story to tell.
“Among the many titles he earned, including UK & Ireland’s Strongest Man, the one he cherished most was simply “Dad.” Pa leaves behind his three beautiful children — Sienna, Rocco, and Freddy — and his partner Layna, whom he loved more than life itself, as he would always say.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone who loved him. With the family’s permission, a GoFundMe has been set up to help with memorial arrangements and to support them through the practical challenges ahead.
“Rest in Power, Pa. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten. With love, the entire Strongman community.”
Popular social media strongman Joey Swoll mourned: “Brother I am devastated. I just talked to you. I’m in shock.
“Thank you for always checking on me, always having my back, and being one of the best people in this industry and on this planet. Prayers to your family and loved ones. You will be more than missed. RIP my brother.”
RxMuscle also paid tribute on social media saying: “We mourn the passing of Irish Strongman Patrick (Pa) O’Dwyer. He was one of Ireland’s strongest and BIGGEST personalities, known equally for his feats of strength and his satirical wit. He will be greatly missed.”
