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Patrick \u201cPa\u201d O\u2019Dwyer has passed away at the age of 40, but the multi-time World\u2019s Strongest Man competitor and five-time Ireland\u2019s Strongest Man<\/a> leaves a lasting legacy thanks to his sporting accomplishments, love of family, and a large social media following that found huge inspiration in his words.<\/p>\n With more than 650,000 Instagram followers, Dwyer became a positive force for those who wanted to make positive lifestyle changes, and he was a man that led from the front. Hailing from Limerick, Ireland, the big man became known as the \u201cLimerick Lion\u201d as he amassed a reputation as a dominant figure in strength sports.<\/p>\n In addition to his accomplishments in Ireland, O\u2019Dwyer became only the second Irishman in history to with the UK\u2019s Strongest Man and was a regular on the Giants Live circuit, whose company director was one of the first to pay tribute. \u201cThe outpouring of love from the strength family since we learnt of Pa\u2019s death on Saturday has been humbling and overwhelming \u2013 but also no surprise,\u201d said Darren Sadler via an official statement. \u201cPa O\u2019Dwyer was a formidable athlete, a fearless competitor and a gentleman. The tributes from his fellow strongmen, the people he battled fiercely but supported every step of the way, have been heartbreaking to read for us all. And the thing that is the most clear \u2013 as it was to anyone who met him \u2013 was his devotion to his family above all others. His love for Layna was stronger than anything he faced competing, as was the devotion to his children, Sienna, Rocco and Freddy.\u201d<\/p>\n Former World\u2019s Strongest Man, Eddie Hall was quick to share his emotions after losing an important friend. \u201cPa brought strength, laughter and warmth wherever he went,\u201d he commented via Instagram<\/a>. \u201cHe genuinely was one of life\u2019s biggest characters and everyone who ever met him would have a story to tell, I\u2019m sure.\u201d Hall has set up a GoFundMe campaign<\/a> with the permission of the O\u2019Dwyer family to raise money to help support his memorial service and the wife and three children he now leaves behind. \u201cPa leaves behind 3 children and a whole family that loved and adored him and leaves a massive hole emotionally and practically,\u201d explained The Beast. \u201cSo, let\u2019s help out with the practical part as that\u2019s all we can do right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Three-time World\u2019s Strongest Man, Tom Stoltman wrote<\/a> that O\u2019Dwyer was a \u201cBest friend in the sport. What an unbelievable guy. Rest easy Pa.\u201d while Australian strongman Eddie Joe Williams wrote<\/a>; \u201cGoing to miss you bro! Comps won\u2019t be the same!\u201d<\/p>\n Around three months ago, O\u2019Dwyer shared that he\u2019d set himself a challenge to \u201cget absolutely ripped\u201d for his 40th birthday and was looking incredibly lean as he appeared to be transitioning from strongman to bodybuilding competition. Sadly, we will never get to see the force that he could have been on the bodybuilding stage.<\/p>\n Rest in Peace, Sir.<\/p>\n If you would like to support the O\u2019Dwyer family at this difficult time, click here for the GoFundMe page<\/a>, that has already amassed $208,000 \/ \u00a3155,000.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nTributes flood in for Patrick \u2018Pa\u2019 O\u2019Dwyer<\/h2>\n