It was with a sense of sadness and shock that we heard that Pat O'Connell had died on Tuesday of last week. While he had been ill for a short time, everyone in the parish was hoping that his condition was not so serious and that he could make a full recovery. Sadly this was not to be and so a great family man, a great community man and a great GAA man has left us. A native of Ballyhooly, Pat came to our parish on his marriage to Mai O'Donnell in Clykeel, Rathcormac. He was an outstanding farmer, progressive and keenly aware of all major developments that took place in agriculture over the years. His first loyalty was always to his wife, Mai, sons, Batt and Mark and his daughter, Cora.
Farming full-time and helping raise a family would be job enough for many people but Pat O'Connell was generous with his time, which he gave freely to others. He had a great sense of local pride in his farm, his parish, his village and all the local organisations therein. He loved Gaelic games and served for many years as grounds officer for the Bride Rovers GAA Club. He was there in the 1990s when the club saw phenomenal growth in terms of teams being fielded. Over the years he put in a huge amount of work in improving our playing pitch and the facilities for players. One could always rely on Pat to do what had to be done. If work was required urgently in preparation for games or after a bad spell of weather that Pat was the man. I never knew what his middle name was but as far as the GAA was concerned it was 'reliability' - if Pat O'Connell said he would do something then the job got done. There was no messing around or ifs and buts about it and we in Bride Rovers are so thankful for all the many, many voluntary hours he gave to the club.
The club jersey was taken up to the altar along with the Cork jersey during his funeral Mass on Friday last. This was very fitting because he was a great follower of all Bride Rovers teams over the last forty years. He celebrated our wins and accepted our defeats. He loved the Cork teams too. He travelled all over Munster and Ireland in support of the Rebels. He was brilliant company going to and coming from matches. Going to a Munster championship game, a qualifier or a vital league game with Pat was a big a journey and adventure as an All-Ireland final. He went in time and was never in a rush home. He really savoured the occasions of games and the 'stop' on the way back was often as entertaining as the match itself. He was an astute judge of players and teams and he was bursting with pride over the last decade with our own Brian Murphy starring with Cork. He loved Thurles and Killarney and Limerick too and the big games in Croke Park meant everything to him. He loved horse racing too and trips to races in Galway and Cheltenham and other courses were enlivened and made occasions of great fun and crack when Pat travelled. "Twas the same going to ploughing matches or various meetings - his presence always shortened the journey.
Pat O'Connell was always positive and everything he did in a voluntary capacity was to help the wider community. When a new cemetery was needed in the parish he was one of the leaders behind the campaign to secure suitable ground. His work with the community council was legendary. People may recall his role as FAS liaison officer but in truth he was one of the 'get up and go' people in every committee he served upon. If something needed to be done Pat was always willing and able with no excuses.
He was fortunate that in all his commitments and volunteering he had the support of a loving and loyal wife and family, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy at this sad time. I know it won't lessen their grief but they can be very proud of a husband, father and grandfather who has left a great legacy of solid work, happy memories and many, many friends behind him.

The Avondhu, 16th January 2014 Tweet

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