The Late Henry Pat McCartan It is with deep regret that I record the death of Henry Pat McCartan, Henry Pat as he was better known. He passed away peacefully at his home in Kilkeel on 21 January, aged 85 years. He is survived by his brother Joe and sister-in-law Maureen who live in Dublin. He was predeceased by his brother Gerald, sisters Winifred, Teresa and Mona, and just five years ago, by his beloved wife Helen. Henry Pat and Helen had a very happy marriage and where you saw one you saw the other - Henry Pat's own words "we did everything together." Helen's death left a void for Henry Pat which could not be filled. Up until a short time before her death, they were a familiar sight driving up to his beloved Longstone to the weekly bingo session in the hall. This is a very different hall from the one Henry Pat would have remembered from his younger days, although having lived for many years in Kilkeel, he first and foremost wanted to be known as a Longstone man. A stonemason by trade, many testimonials of his work can be seen throughout Mourne and further a field. He was a very keen GAA man and was a founder member of the great 1945 team. Unfortunately there are only a few of those stalwarts left, as the present Longstone chairman, Hugh Rogers, said at the recent dinner dance. They formed the club in 1945 and in 1955 were in the Down Senior Championship final, no mean achievement. It was men like Henry Pat who made up the team. He was famous for his great catching ability and was known to many as the man with the big hands. He was also a great free-taker; when he got set to take a free, he spread his arms like an eagle about to land on its prey. He captained that team for many years and he maintained a great interest in the club's successes right up to the end, as he told me himself on many occasions. Conditions were a lot different in the humble beginnings of the club. In those days there were no toilets, showers, changing rooms, etc., with the players stripping out behind the old walls at the bottom of Dennis' field or behind a bush on Joe's moor. He was proud of the tasks he carried out on match days, namely making sure boots were studded and the big leather ball blown up and laced. Very evident at his funeral in Massforth on 23 January , was the esteem in which he was held, with so many people travelling long distances to pay their respect to Henry Pat. Requiem Mass was celebrated by Fr O'Brien, assisted by Fr Murray, before Henry Pat was laid to rest at Massforth cemetery. May the sod rest lightly on his brow. Contributed by Matt McCartan, 10 Oldtown Lane, Longstone. Courtesy of the Mourne Observer 17th February 2005 Tweet

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