Appreciation to 'free spirit' Niall

The death took place last month of a Nenagh born retired garda who spent the last years of his career protecting the leading citizens of the State.
Niall O' Byrne, who grew up in Saint Patrick's Terrace, was a garda stationed at Áras an Uachtaráin in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, serving there during part of the term of former President Mary McAleese and in the first few year's of President Michael D Higgins' first term as Head of State.
Niall, who would be 58 this year, retired from the force seven years ago, spending much of his life thereafter living in Spain and, as a keen traveller, touring several countries all over the world.
He was the eldest in a family four, three boys and one girl, raised by May and the late Liam O' Byrne, a former Principal of Puckane National School and a prominent member of the Labour Party in Nenagh. Niall's dad, who also died in the prime of his life, was a close associate of the late north Tipperary TD John Ryan, writing statements and press releases on his behalf for local media.
Niall, known to his friends as 'Twang', was educated at Saint Mary's Boys National School and the CBS Primary and Secondary Schools. The nickname stuck because of the thrill he used to get as a young boy from mini-catapults he used to make out of paper clips and elastic bands. He would roll up tiny pieces of paper and fire them at his unsuspecting victims, shouting the word 'twang' to mimic the sound of the contracting elastic as the paper bullet exploded from his 'weapon'.
"He loved to be called Twang," recalled his friend and neighbour, Paul Mitchell. "That name is what he went by and it was what he always wanted."
Paul added: "As a boy and a man Niall was the most genuine person I have ever meet. He never had an agenda against anyone."
Niall's only sister, Frances, remembers her brother as beig very intelligent and one possessed of "a free spirit".
"He was kind and shy and wild and soft-hearted. He loved animals and he loved his friends, and he was loyal to a fault," Frances recalled of her "big brother".
Laughing fondly over the memories, she added: "He could drive you nuts too, but I loved him and I'm so proud that he was my brother."
After completing his Leaving Certificate, Niall went to NIHE (now University of Limerick) for a year. He dropped out before subsequently joining An Garda Síochána, going on to spend the best part of his career stationed in Store Street station in Dublin, before his posting to the Áras.
Niall had a great love for all animals, but particularly dogs. His ability to train and connect with them prompted one of his friends in Spain to dub him 'The Dog Whisperer'.
Another lifelong friend who grew up across the road from Niall was Paudie Grace who fondly recalls of days long ago playing alongside him in the Nenagh Brass Band. "He was a very inoffensive and sociable guy, and a pure gentleman," Paudie recalled. "He loved meeting people and talking and tracing."
Niall's friends remember a man who was "mad into music". Paul Mitchell said Niall's favourite bands were Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and Madness. His favourite singer was Leonard Cohen. "We travelled to music concerts together all over the place."
Paudie Grace revealed that he committed to keeping Niall's music collection of 500 CDs in safe keeping in his home pending Niall's return some day to his native town. Sadly, that day will never be now. A lover of water and scenery, Niall's favourite haunts when back home in Nenagh were the lakeside villages of Dromineer and Garrykennedy. He loved walking in the hills overlooking Lough Derg above Portroe. He was also a keen sailor after learning the skill as a child at Lough Derg Yacht Club. 
Niall, the great adventurer, died suddenly and of natural causes in Corralejo in Fuerteventuara. Sadly, because of restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, only two of his friends were allowed to attend his cremation ceremony in Spain. His remains were laid to rest on March 26th at the crematorium funeral home in Puerto del Rosario where a friend, Declan Scott, draped the tricolour and an Ireland jersey over Niall's coffin.
Also on the coffin were a pair of Niall's shoes, a poignant symbol of his much loved travels and adventures around the world.
Niall is survived by his mother Mai; his brothers, Maurice and Austin and his sister Frances.