Patrick Moriarty passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly, while on a visit to America. He was attending the wedding of his nephew in New York, when the Lord saw fit to call him to his eternal reward. Patrick was born in Caherhayes, Abbeyfeale just over 58 years ago and was the eldest of the four children of Joseph and Nora Moriarty. He was educated at Meenkilly school where among his classmates was the late Frank Foley who was a first cousin and close neighbour. A lifelong friendship developed between the two of them which only ended with the untimely death of Frank in 1980. After leaving school Patrick spent some time working at various jobs in and around Rockchapel and Meelin in Co. Cork, before immigrating to England in the sixties. From an early age he had displayed a great mechanical aptitude for fixing and maintaining various types of engines and machinery. He found these skills to be very much in demand in London and soon secured a lucrative position for himself within the construction industry over there. In 1967 he married Ann McDaid from Buncranna in Co. Donegal. They set up home at Highbury in North London, just a stones throw from the Arsenal Football Ground. The couple settled down to family life, and in time were blessed with three children, Patricia, Kevin and Joseph. The house in Highbury became a frequent visiting place for many Abbeyfeale folk who ventured over to the English capital. They were always assured of a warm welcome from both Patrick and Ann, with the kettle constantly on the boil and a liberal supply of beers cooling in the fridge! Patrick had a great interest in Irish music. His uncle, Bernard, used to play the bagpipes and Patrick carried on the tradition by learning this most difficult and intricate of instruments. He was also quite talented on the button accordion and was much in demand to play for polka sets, both in his native Abbeyfeale and in numerous Irish venues throughout North London. He followed the fluctuating fortunes of Limerick hurlers through the sports pages of the Limerick Leader each week. His father, Joseph, hurled for Tour in his youth, and used to take Patrick to various county and Munster finals. Patrick was particularly pleased when another of his nephews, Colm Moriarty (son of younger brother John) won Munster and All Ireland medals with the Limerick U/21s in 2000 and 2001. Patrick liked to return home each year for the annual coursing meeting. His father was one of the founding members of Abbeyfeale Coursing Club and was actively involved with the club right up until his death. Patrick would duly attend the two-day meeting and, in the evenings he would call to Jack O'Rourke's or Nora Riordan's, where he might meet up with Mikey Noble, Nedeen O'Donnell and various others of his friends and cronies. He had a keen sense of humour and, while partaking of a few light refreshments, he would hold court and enthrall his audience with hilarious and highly exaggerated tales of his days "above on the mountain". He had a fund of stories, and possessed this unique ability to extract humour from the most mundane and commonplace of events. However, he retained a profound and lasting respect and affection for the people and the places that he knew. This respect and affection was reciprocated by the large numbers of mourners who attended his funeral Mass at the Church of the Assumption and the subsequent interment at Reilg Ida Naofa in Abbeyfeale. People travelled from New York, London and Donegal as well as from many other parts of Ireland, to pay solemn and silent tribute to one of life's true gentlemen. Patrick sleeps peacefully now in a shady corner at the foot of the Old Road, while all who knew him, rejoice in his memory but feel very much the poorer for his passing. He is survived by his loving wife Ann, daughter Patricia, sons Kevin and Joseph, brother John, sisters Betty and May, grandchildren Daniel and Cara, and by his nephews, nieces, relatives and a large circle of friends. Courtesy of The Limerick Leader October 2002 Tweet

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