Butler, Paddy
March 27, 2014A famous person once said,"Only a life lived for others, is worth living." That quotation most certainly fitted the late Paddy Butler. He was a true Christian and a great humanitarian. He always had the interest of others at heart when he solved problems for friends and for people he had never even met before in his life. But who were sent by doctors, councillors or friends who had already got financial help with income tax, or other more personal matters, which they couldn't deal with themselves. He was at his happiest when he had solved whatever problem they had. He knew he had relieved the person concerned of a lot of anxiety and worry, he never looked for anything in return, only that you say a prayer for him and he wouldn't worry what denomination you were or if you had no belief. It was immaterial to Paddy, you were still treated as a friend and that is what true Christianity is all about.
Paddy was well aware of the fact that I had a huge drink problem at a certain stage in my life and that I had found sobriety through AA. That is a long time ago now, but I still remember how pleased he was for me. Any of his friends would know that when he was a pleased, he would rub his hands together and you would get this happy smile he had. He then shared with me why he thought he never drank himself.
His parents died when he was a teenager, he also had a brother and sister who were younger than him. It was left to his grandparents to rear the 3 siblings. His first job was as a temporary postman, which only lasted a short time. He then got employment working as a forester, but again that was only for a short time. He was very aware of how hard life was for his grandparents. Then a friend told him the Army were training recruits in Fermoy Military Camp. He was already a member of the local branch of the FCA. He had previously spent a period of training in Fermoy, but there was no financial profit being a member of a reserve force. Paddy was living in Doneraile. He cycled over the next morning, later that day he was a recruit in the 1st Motor Squadron ready to start his basic training for the next 20 weeks. In the first ever Troop to be trained in the 1st Motor Squadron, a recruit's pay was 2 pounds 14 shillings and sixpence, roughly €2.06c in todays money, but this was 1959.
At lunchtime on Saturday when the recruits finished training, Paddy and a few other recruits from around the Doneraile/Shanballymore area would cycle home. They would have to be back in camp again by 23.00 hours (11pm) on Sunday night. After he arrived home he would give his grandmother 2 pounds towards the housekeeping money. He would then put on his working clothes, borrow a horse and cart from a friendly neighbour and go to the wood go get enough timber to keep the fires going in the house for the next week.
I remember everything had to be cooked on an open fire in country cottages back then. The cottage was 3 miles outside the town. There was no rural electrification until a couple of years later. Also there was no running water, so he then loaded up the water churns and then went to the well to get enough water for washing, cooking and hygiene purposes.
Inspite of all those chores, Paddy still managed to play himself onto the Shanballymore hurling team. Any of the old GAA players would tell you they were the finest team in the North Cork area. The day of Paddy's funeral, I had the pleasure of meeting his brother John Joe. He told me at one time Paddy and another chap tried to start a football team in Shanballymore and as JJ said, it would have been as easy to start a cricket team there. One day Paddy got a phone call from a member of the team saying, I think we might be short a couple of players for next Sunday's match in the novice league. Paddy always the optimist said don't worry, I'm brining over a Kerry footballer with me next week. Obviously the news flew all over the village, everyone waited with bated breath to see the Kerry footballer. I said to JJ, "was he any good?" he said I don't think any of the two of them got a kick of the ball. He said the nearest he came to be a Kerry footballer was that, he was born on the Kerry border. Some old soldiers might have an idea who he is?
Paddy served a total of 39 years in the Army. He spent most of that time with the 13th Infantry Battalion in the Administration Office. Eventually taken over as Adem. NCO. He was also a gunnery instructor in the 81 MM Mortar, GPMG Instrument and the ground 90 MM anti tank weapon. He had a very distinguished overseas record, serving in different continents. The 39th Infantry Battalion in the Congo, the 41st Battalion and the 11th Infantry Group in Cyprus. The first Component Company on the Lebanon/Israeli border as a senior Logistic NCO with the United Nations headquarters and also with the 26th Infantry Group in the Sinai.
It may seem a cliche today, but I really mean it when I say, You will be forever in our hearts. Thanks for all the wonderful memories.
Your good friend Liam.
The Avondhu, 27th March 2014 Tweet
