Orwell Wheelers pay tributes to local cyclist who died after collision with car on Sunday

Tributes have been paid to a Rathfarnham woman who was killed when the bike she was travelling on was involved in a collision with a car on Sunday in Kildare.

Tonya McEvoy (34), a member of the Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club, was cycling with the group in Rathcoffey in Kildare when tragedy struck.

In a statement released by the club yesterday, President Denis Gleeson said: “Tonya McEvoy was one of our new rising stars having only joined us during the summer of 2016.

“She loved cycling and would be out on her bike any chance she got, proudly sporting her full Orwell gear.

“Tonya you will be forever in our memory, taken from us all far too early.

“Our thoughts in Orwell are with her mum and dad Pat and Brian, her brothers Brian and Keith and her sister Ciara.

“May she rest in peace.”

Meanwhile, another club member said the childcare worker had taken to club cycling with a passion, and she was just at the beginning of her cycling odyssey.

He said: “Tonya started as one of our talented beginner women last summer and took to club cycling with a passion.

“Her sister said that ‘cycling was a big part of her life and she loved every minute of it’.

“She was so proud to be a part of Orwell Wheelers and wearing the colours.

“She was at the outset of her cycling odyssey and what shone through was her smiling, sunny disposition and her sheer joy at being out on the bike.

“She immediately fitted in with any group and brought great energy and enthusiasm to the spins.”

The stretch of road where the collision occurred was closed for a period of time on Sunday, and investigations are ongoing.

The funeral of Ms McEvoy will take place later this week.