Oliver Byrne, Rest in Peace

[Sniffer]

RIP, a larger than life character.

[Philly]

I remember being at the Split game and seeing him go to the Shel fans at the end applauding and cheering with them, proud of his club. He gave it his all. RIP.

[Conor H]

R.I.P.

Gave his life to Shels.

[bellavistaman]

R.I.P

[carrickharp]

R.I.P

[Anto McC]

As a Shels fan, i really want to say thanks for the memories because without you, i wouldn't have them.

R.I.P.

[James]

RIP Oliver
The league has lost one of its biggest characters and personalities

[willymccann]

R.I.P

[BohDiddley]

Sad news.
Gave everything to the game. RIP.

[dcfcsteve]

Sad news indeed. Never liked the man, but that doesn't mean I'd have ever wished him ill.

A fan of EL football to the end...

[Block G Raptor]

Condolences to his family,
didn't always agree with him but hey thats life
rip

[Boh_So_Good]

This is very sad. We all knew he was ill, but I had no idea he was dying. He'll be missed by all at Shels and Dublin and Ireland will be a less colourful place with him. His devotion, although at times could be difficult to defend, he was certainly the kind of person you would want next to you in a fight on your side.

The end of an era - he was a transistion from the old half assed league to the modern professional one. His place in Irish soccer history is assured and history will look on his legacy kindly I am sure.

[pineapple stu]

The end of an era - he was a transistion from the old half assed league to the modern professional one. His place in Irish soccer history is assured and history will look on his legacy kindly I am sure.

I echo previous comments that, although I had absolutely no time for him, I certainly don't relish his demise, and sympathise fully with those who knew him at this time.

[deleted post content, continued in another thread]

RIP.

[half_full]

Put the league on the map in many ways, a true LoI supporter giving everything he had for his club. RIP

[harpstilidie]

R.I.P Ollie

[Tis-smeee]

I echo previous comments that, although I had absolutely no time for him, I certainly don't relish his demise, and sympathise fully with those who knew him at this time.

However, I don't think there's any point in posting revisionist comments like the ones above. Byrne's Shelbourne tenure was dominated by the "half assed", from accounting measures, to tax payments, to business plans. His reign at Shels has seen the club end E12m in debt, in the First Division with little hope of recovery, their ground all but gone and few plans for a new one, still losing money, up in front of the High Court again for over half a million of missing cash, has seen him bring the league into disrepute on numerous occasions, has seen Revenue launch an investigation into the entire league purely on the basis of what they found at Shels. He did nothing to bring the league forward; rather his completely unsustainable and reckless spending caused large wage inflation in the league and forced clubs to recklessly spend themselves if they were to have any hope of competing.

I disagree very strongly with the notion that any of this constitutes a move to a professional era, or that history will reflect kindly on his legacy. However, "good riddances" were said last January when he stepped aside at Shels, not now.

RIP.

At least some said it, RIP

[manic da hoop]

A sad loss to Irish football. Condolances to his family and, indeed, to everyone at Shelboune Football Club.

Our league will be a lesser place without him.

[gufcfan]

Condolences to the family and friends of a great servant of irish soccer

[A face]

However, I don't think there's any point in posting revisionist comments like the ones above. Byrne's Shelbourne tenure was dominated by the "half assed", from accounting measures, to tax payments, to business plans. His reign at Shels has seen the club end E12m in debt, in the First Division with little hope of recovery, their ground all but gone and few plans for a new one, still losing money, up in front of the High Court again for over half a million of missing cash, has seen him bring the league into disrepute on numerous occasions, has seen Revenue launch an investigation into the entire league purely on the basis of what they found at Shels. He did nothing to bring the league forward; rather his completely unsustainable and reckless spending caused large wage inflation in the league and forced clubs to recklessly spend themselves if they were to have any hope of competing.

I disagree very strongly with the notion that any of this constitutes a move to a professional era, or that history will reflect kindly on his legacy. However, "good riddances" were said last January when he stepped aside at Shels, not now.

I know what your saying there, and you're not wrong technically but i'd disagree with you overall.

Edit: Copied posts to a new thread to debate

[GuisaSaigon]

Went over to La Coruna for Shels' Champions League match a few years back, as we were going in to the stadium Ollie Byrne was at the turnstiles making sure all the Shels fans got in OK. He also made sure everyone was on all the buses after the game really struck me as man of the people not a stuck up suit like many directors of some clubs. Rest In Peace Ollie.