McMahon, Patrick J.
February 01, 2008
An extraordinary presence has left New York in the life of Patrick J McMahon who died on January 6, just four days shy of his 100th birthday.
Retired Sergeant McMahon who served the New York Police Department from 1936 to 1957 in the 24th, 32nd and 34th Precincts, as well as the Plainclothes Division, has been injured three times in the line of duty.
His brave and generous service and his pride in New York's Finest were acknowledged in the eulogy given by his daughter, Clare Brady of Glen Spey, New York and by the NYPD Honor Guard, present through the initiative of Chief Michael Collins.
The funeral mass, celebrated by Rev Sean Broderick at St John's Church, Kingsbridge, was attended by numerous family members and friends, representatives of the Gaelic Athletic Association of New York, of which Patrick McMahon was past president and Niall Burgess, the Irish Consul General, who had been planning reception in honour of the centenarian.
Patrick McMahon was born on January 10, 1908 in Corbeha, Cahir, Feakle to Marie Brody McMahon and Patrick McMahon. He sailed to New York in 1925, married Beatrice Farrell of New York in 1933 and they raised a family of five daughters in the Highbridge section of the Bronx.
Patrick McMahon was not only a loving father, but also an advocate for the people of his neighbourhood, a strong supporter of Sacred Heart Parish, and a generous benefactor of the Carmelite Sisters, whose cloister was then in Highbridge.
A legendary figure in the GAA in New York, Patrick was a long time player and manager of the Clare Hurling Team, whom he led a championship in 1967. Later he was a founding member of the Emerald Golf Society of New York and he continued to swing a club into his 99th year.
Patrick McMahon is survived by his daughters in New York, Maureen Murnane of Poughkeepsie, Sr Bea McMahon of the Bronx, Clare Brady of Glen Spey and Frances Knowles of Sarasota, FL, as well as by 11 grandchildren and 19 greatgrandchildren.
Patrick was an eloquent spokesperson for Catholic education, in which he saw a beacon of hope for immigrants and other hard-working parents who, in his own words, "struggle to give their children the opportunity to reap the benefits of this great land of our".
Courtesy of the Clare Champion
1st February 2008
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