NUI Maynooth student who died in Tanzania has now been named
Friends, family and colleagues have been taking to social media to pay tributes to Govan Jolliffe-Byrne – the young Irishman who died in East Africa over the weekend.
Backpacking with friends in Tanzania, the 20-year-old Dubliner fell off a balcony at a nightclub in the coastal town of Tanga early this morning, the Irish Mirror reports.
Mr Jolliffe-Byrne hailed from the Carrickhill Close area of Portmarnock and was a keen football player.
His local GAA club Naomh Mearnog this evening tweeted: "Govan Byrne a true legend, always the the soul of the party and everyone's friend, you will never be forgotten," while others who knew him also paid tribute online.
Govan byrne a true legend always the the soul of the party & everyone's friend you will never be forgotten pic.twitter.com/KodQuDak3O
— Naomh Mearnog (@naomhmearnog) August 16, 2015
Govan had worked as a bartender at Portmarnock Sports & Leisure Club and furthermore counted himself as a cricket and soccer fan.
The student had attend Portmarnock Community School and sat his Leaving Cert there in 2013. He particularly excelled in maths and was also an exceptional chess player, competing at an international level.
Govan left Ireland for his East African trip in June and was expected to return shortly to resume his studies in Maynooth.
The Foreign Affairs department has been in touch with the Irish embassy in Dar es Salaam, and is in contact with his family.
Tanga sits on the Indian Ocean close to the Kenyan border. It is popular for its proximity to the islands of Zanzibar – where Govan was also spending time – and Pemba.
