One of Tullamore's 'true greats' is widely mourned

Prominent mental health campaigner and 2021 Offaly Person of the Year James O'Connor will be laid to rest today in Tullamore.

The Tullamore native, a successful business man and founder of Accessible Counselling Tullamore (ACT), died on St Patrick's Day peacefully in his sleep with his beloved Lisa (Guing) at his side, according to his death notice on the rip.ie website.

The businessman, who ran the successful company fititout.ie, founded the ACT charity after he revealed he needed psychiatric care after suffering a breakdown when his baby daughter died.

He spoke movingly about the loss of Leah Victoria who passed away in 1999, and after first opening up about his mental health difficulties in 2015, Mr O'Connor became a well known mental health campaigner and advocate.

Mr O'Connor, who was in his 40s, became active in battling the stigma associated with mental health struggles and became an ambassador for the See Change Green Ribbon campaign.

He then decided to found Accessible Counselling Tullamore (ACT) as a community-based response.

James later appeared on The Late Late Show where he gained much admiration for his work in Tullamore and across the Midlands in various projects.

“The whole idea is early intervention, we’re not a crisis centre so we look at grabbing a problem when it’s small and dealing with it,” he explained in an interview to RTE 1 viewers.

Mr O'Connor was a guest of Ryan Tubridy after receiving a €20,000 donation from AXA Ireland under its Community Hero awards programme.

Last year, he won the Public Inspiration Award from the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP.)

The award recognises an individual's advocacy for increased access to mental health services for all.

Since news of his untimely passing filtered out there have been many warm tributes to the late James O'Connor, who has been lauded for the huge amount of work he has done in the Tullamore area over the years.

One condolence on rip.ie described him as “a gentle giant of a man” who will “always be remembered for his vision, determination, and persistence in founding Accessible Counselling Tullamore. His legacy will be the long lasting impact ACT will have on those most in need”. Another described him as an “inspiring man who did so much for so many”.

“There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone, the light remains. Rest in peace James we will continue to carry on your legacy and will carry you in our hearts forever,” a poignant message on the Accessible Counselling website said in tribute to its founder.

Will Faulkner from Midlands 103 said: “Rest in peace James O’Connor. Impeccable tradesman, tireless mental health advocate and humble soul who brightened the world for all who knew him”.

Tullamore Town FC said the town has lost of its “true greats” and a fantastic supporter, thanking him for all of his contributions to the club over the years. The pitch was poignantly named after his daughter Leah Victoria.

From Knockowen in Tullamore, James will be missed beyond words by all who knew him, especially his wife Lisa, mother Dolores and her partner Eddie, brothers Jason and Michael, sister Jane, father-in-law Eddie and mother-in-law Teresa, much loved nieces, nephews, godchildren, brothers and sister in law, aunts, uncles, cousins, his huge circle of friends including everyone at Fititout and Accessible Counselling, Tullamore.

He will be laid to rest following Funeral Mass at 10am this morning in Clonminch Cemetery.