The Late Harry McPartland Thursday 20th February 2003 was a bitter east wind winter day, grey and gloomy and it was also a day of grief for the family and extended family of Harry McPartland as they accompanied his cortege from his home in Windsor Avenue to St. Peter's Church, Lurgan for his Requiem Mass. They were accompanied by many members of the legal profession which the deceased had graced throughout his long honourable professional life and by a large congregation of clients and ordinary members of his community whom he served with integrity always. The Gaelic Athletic Association was represented in particular by his club Wolfe Tones, Derrymacash, which he had played for with great zest and accomplishment in his playing days. Present and former members of the Armagh GAA County Executive were also there, as were colleagues of his playing days in Antrim. He had contributed much to both counties in his county football career in the late 1930's and 40's. Politicians had also come to pay tribute and celebrate his life from his own extended family circle Mr Seamus Mallon MLA M.P. and former Deputy First Minister Northern Ireland Assembly and former Minister of Agriculture, Mrs Bríd Rodgers MLA in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Clergy present included Very Rev. Canon Cahal Jordan P.P. Seagoe and Canon Tom McConville, a classmate in St. Colman's, Awaiting his last coming to the Church he loved and worshiped in his adult life were his nephews Reverend Kieran McPartland Adm. St Peter's Lurgan assisted by Very Reverend Mosignor Dean Byrne Vicar General of the Diocese of Dromore and Pastor Emeritus St. Peter's Lurgan. Father Kieran, as celebrant spoke to us of the true meaning of death after a life well spent within the context of Jesus as friend as exemplified in the Gospel of the Requiem - the Raising of Lazarus from the dead. He explained how Harry had been received into the kinship of Christ when he was baptised. He developed the theme of how Baptism as a sacrament was a gift which when used properly brought out fully the talents to be used in life. He noted how Harry in his scholarship, commitment to his wife and family and to his legal profession had amply demonstrated this. In his life and particularly in recent days as he approached the end of the life well lived he had faced his path to judgement with dignity and integrity. He was lifted up by his faithful adherence to his God, his Church and his prayerful relationship with the Lord. LOVING CARE Father Kieran also told us of how the loving care bestowed upon him over a lifetime by his beloved wife Roisin and his children and visioned him in his profession and kept him going with vigour until the end. He referred to his sporting career as a great club player with Wolfe Tones, Derrymacash, and county player with both Armagh and Antrim. He also revealed how he loved to travel in Europe and America and when he moved to the environs of Lurgan Park how he enjoyed walking its expansive panoramic acres around the lake to chat with one and all he met on the way. In recent years despite the advancing years he still guided, as "The Boss", perhaps at a more leisurely pace his legal practice, now expertly managed by his sons Henry and Patrick. In conclusion Father Kieran offered the condolences of Monsignor Byrne and the priests of the parish in Roisin, wife of the deceased, his daughter Geraldine, his daughters-in-law, his grandchildren, his sister and brothers and family circles. BORN IN DERRYMACASH Harry McPartland was born and reared in lovely rural Derrymacash on the edge of Lough Neagh. His early experience on a farm working with his parents and brothers taught him many lessons about the durability needed to overcome the challenges in life and nature. He was blessed with keen intelligence and a sturdy frame and when he arrived at St. Patrick's Primary School, Derrymacash they had a ready made scholar and athlete. His voracious appetite for learning and he academic skills he had in abundance meant his path to St. Colman's College in Newry was assured. There in classroom, corridor, handball alley and football meadow he blossomed even more. In curriculum terms he was an all rounder but had a particular competence in the subject of History. Thus when he came to sit Senior Certificate it was no surprise to his teachers but an outstanding accomplishment when he scored highest marks in History at this level in Northern Ireland. Even years later as we sat the same examination in the College in 1953 his example and name was held before up to attempt to emulate. PRIZE WINNING GRADUATE He proceeded to the law faculty of the Queen's University of Belfast where he continued to excel being a prize winning graduate in that most demanding of professions - the law. After a period of apprenticeship he began his own practice in the town of Lurgan - no easy task in those days when newcomers had to complete with established practices. He overcame any obstacle fairly quickly with his tenacity, integrity and brilliance as an advocate in the court. In the days when courts cases were covered more fully than now to read of his legal skills for clients in all aspects of law. Over a long lifetime until a debilitating illness overtook him he was the Sine Qua Non solicitude for his clients. Even in part-time management with the proud assistance of his equally talented sons he persisted in his calling until the beginning of this year. With his passing the community has lost an advocate that we may never see the like of again. I first came to know him as a sportsman when as a boy I followed the fortunes of my emerging club Clann Eireann in the Lurgan and district GAA League. He was the leader and a leading player with his native parish club of Wolfe Tones, Derrymacash. To say the least he filled the green jersey with his muscular stocky frame and legs which could send the brown leather ball three quarters the length of Raparee to St. Colman's Park, Lurgan Tarry. He was a green giant in defence but also sprinted up to take a free or penalty kick when there was a dire need to gain a vital score. As a defender and in style and appearance he was the nearest thing I saw to the great All Ireland defender Bill Carlos of Roscommon of the 1940's. Like his lookalike and stylist Harry has been trained in the school of hard knocks as a McRory cup footballer in St. Colman's College and later in Queen's University as a Sigerson Cup player and in the Antrim County League where students were permitted to participate. Having played for his own County Armagh in the late 30's with such greats as Alf Murray, Eddie McLoughlin and Jim McCullough and his near neighbours Father Dan McGeown, John and Charlie Pat Byrne of Derrytrasna he was chosen to play with Antrim at Senior County level because Armagh did not field a team in that sector during the war years in the 40's. He was joined by the late Gerry Fagan who also was permitted to field for Antrim and they settled in well to aid the silken skills of, such as Paddy O'Hara, Doctor Sean Gibson, Father Frank McCorry, Harry O'Neill and Captain Sean Gallagher. All these were later to reach Croke Park and almost dethrone mighty Kerry albeit without Harry and Gerry by then back with Armagh. At club level he led a team remembered with pride by all in Derrymacash and environs and including Bill McCorry, Leo McAlinden, John McCarron, many a McConville, Colman, McMurrough, McAlinden and McCann. They took league and championship at various levels culminating in a McKillop Cup win in the 1940's. It was a tribute to him on Thursday last how many thankfully still with us from that era came to pay him respect from all the local clubs including his own Wolfe Tones. It was a great sense of pride for him to see his son Henry also wear the orange jersey with distinction for Armagh in defence. When he hung up those will worn and used boots he continued to act for Wolfe Tones in the committee room. LOVING HUSBAND In his private life he was a loving husband to his wife Roisin and when blessed with a daughter and two sons and a family home in the leafy splendour on the edge of Lurgan Park he was an outstanding example of caring and solicitous father. In this life he preferred after the hurly burly of office and court and in his religious life he chose the side aisle rather than the limelight of the main. He was quiet and dignified in him coming and going but determined to serve his God, his family and his community to the best of his ability. LARGE ATTENDANCE The large attendance at his Requiem was a testimony to the esteem in which he was held. Thus we offer deepest condolences his wife Roisin, his daughter Geraldine and his sons, Henry and Patrick whose readings of the Word of God were devotional and inspiring on the day; to his daughters-in-law Mary and Martelle also involved in the ceremony as were his grandchildren Christopher, Carole, Shannon, Conor, Patrick and Eve who equally graced the Requiem and to whom we also offer our sympathy. It is also offered to his sister and brothers and family circle as well as the Mallon Family circle. TRIBUTE As a tribute to this Renaissance man in family, Church, law and sport I offer the poet John Milton word from his classic poem "II Penseroso" I would have scanned it in the study hall in St. Colman's College all those years ago. It sums up his living and his vision and his passing. " But let my due feet never fail To walk the studious cloisters' pale And love the high embowered roof, With antique pillars massy proof, And stored windows richly dight Casting a dim religious light, There let the pealing organ blow, In service high and anthems clear, And may with sweetness through mine ear, Dissolve me into ecstasies, And bring all heaven before mine eyes". By Brendan McStravick Former member Armagh County GAA executive and past pupil, St. Colman's College Courtesy of the Armagh Observer February 2003 Tweet

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