Treacy, P.J.
July 31, 2003
The Late P.J. Treacy
The death at his home in Garrison, following a seven month illness that required hospitalisation in the Erne, the Royal and Belvoir Park hospitals and home care generously delivered by his wife, Bernie and his five sisters, of P.J. Treacy was met with genuine profound sadness and regret.
Mr Treacy, who had just turned 45, was the father of three boys, the eldest, Thomas a student at St Michael's College, Sean and Niall, pupils at St Martin's PS, Garrison.
He was a mould-maker in Belleck Pottery where he was employed for the past 27 years and, outside of his family and the Pottery, he had two other abiding passions, the family farm at Aughamuldoney where be had built his home and GAA.
His contribution to the GAA was outstanding, starting with under-age football with his beloved Devenish with whom he won a senior championship medal in 1985 before venturing into refereeing, club administration ( he was vice-Chairman at the time of his death) and the county youth scene. Here, he fittingly ended up as Youth Board Chairman, the unanimous choice of the clubs.
Before the Fermanagh v Cavan game at Brewster Park, a minute's silence was strictly observed to his memory.
P.J. was the only son of Tess and the late Thomas Joseph Treacy, Aughamuldoney. He attended the local Devenish No 2 PS and St Mary's High School, Brollagh before entering the world of work. The Pottery didn't beckon immediately but, by the time it did, he had tasted farm work and liked it.
He was an early riser whose custom custom was to go up to the farm before heading off to Belleck and, after coming back in the evening, returning to the farm before setting out on his GAA pursuits. His love of farming he inherited from his late father who died less than two years ago.
In 1989, he married the former Bernie Patton, from Killygordan and settled in their newly-built bungalow home on the farm. It was where P.J. could put his feet up at the end of another fulfiled day, reading the newspapers, the sport especially and, the odd time, watching tv sport. And, when the boys came of age, he in turn brought them fishing.
The deaths of his father, his uncle, John Francis O'Brien ( who was his Godfather) and his brother-in-law, Martin Gallagher, his sister, Imelda's husband were difficult times.
But, as during his illness, he maintained a very strong faith which he was careful to pass on to his children. It was fitting he should spend his last months in his own home where his wife, Bernie, his principal carer, proved a tower of strength.
His sisters were always available and, likewise, the local GP's, clergy and the District Nursing Team based at Rathmore Clinic in Belleek.
It all helped him lead a fairly independent life, something he tenaciously fought to maintain until the last few days.
Such was his strength of will that he, Bernie and his youngest sister, Angela had planned to go with the Clogher Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes next week. It was the family's desire that donations in lieu of flowers to go to the Clogher Lourdes Invalid Fund, c/o Peter Carty, funeral director, Garrison.
His remains were removed from his late home to Mary Queen of Peace Church, Garrison for noon funeral mass for which the principal celebrant was Very Rev Patrick Canon Lonergan, P.P. who was one of a number of his regular priestly visitors, to home and hospital.
Canon Lonergan described the deceased as, 'a great family man and a great GAA man as well'.
Burial was in the adjoining cemetery.
Courtesy of the Fermanagh Herald
July 2003
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