Pat (Patsy) McHugh
Cultrain, Westport
And Harrow, London

Pat (Patsy) McHugh was born in Cultrain, Westport on November 7, 1937 the eldest son of Tom and Molly Mchugh in a family of three girls and two boys. He was christened in the old Fahy church and later served as an alter boy which gave him a lifelong love of the faith and the ceremonial of the Church. He attended Fahy School where he was taught by Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Daly and he had fond memories of their attempts to try and teach him how to sing. He was present at the centenary celebrations of the school in 1998 and was proud to present the school register at the offertory procession of the special mass.

At the age of 12 years he went to the Christian Brothers School in Westport and was certainly for the excellent education he received there. To the end of his life he could recite many of the poems and quotes from Shakespeare as well as the declension of Latin verbs and Irish vocabulary that he had to learn. He used to say that the Brothers were dedicated to teaching the children of the less well-off at a time when the state wasn't interested in them. He remembered the many kindnesses when times were hard and the brothers would waive the fees in return for turf on farm produce. He attended both class reunions one in 1990 and the last in 2005 and was delighted to meet up with his former classmates, several of whom had gone on to distinguish themselves in the world of academia.

He developed a passionate interest in the Classical civilisations which was fostered during his schooldays and in later years travelled widely visiting the ancient sites in Greece, Turkey and Italy. A man of great culture, he had a lifelong interest in poetry and the ancient language of latin.
He was a talented Gaelic footballer and played not only for his school team but also for Kilmeena and Burrishoole. When he arrived in England he enjoyed similar success playing for Dr. Croke's in Harrow and the friends he made there helped to assuage his great homesickness.

While Gaelic games were his main sporting interest, he also greatly enjoyed rugby internationals, especially when Ireland were involved.
On leaving school having obtained his Leaving Cert., he was only able to get a job breaking stones for which he and his beloved horse Monty were paid under £5 a week. Like many of his contemporaries he left for England taking a number of jobs and applying for more until two years after his arrival he set up in business sub-contracting in the construction industry, first for his uncle and then for his future father-in-law. By dint of hard work and long hours plus 'a lot of luck', as he liked to add, he managed to succeed. He was always willing to give a helping hand to others, particularly to those from the Westport area who needed 'a start'.

In 1961 he married Maureen whom he had met shortly after his arrival in England and they went on to have three children Anya, Stephen and Neil. They were married for forty-nine years and have twelve grand-children and he did indeed consider himself blessed to have seen his children's children. His grand-children were great joy of his later years.

He was an enthusiastic member of the self-styled Mayo Mountainmen's Skiing Club and with a group of friends, all with Mayo connections, they 'comqured' many of the most difficult black runs of the ski slopes of Europe.
He was a constant visitor to Cultrain and loved nothing better than meeting up with his many relatives and neighbour. Over the years he introduced many of his friends to the beauty of County Mayo and in particular to the many outstanding golf courses which is why such a large contingent of those friends from England travelled to Ireland to attend his funeral.

He was a true son of Cultrain; and never left in his heart although he had been gone for 54 years. Cultrain/ Fahy welcomed him back to their warm embrace by the many neighbours travelling to Shannon to accompany his coffin on its final journey, by neighbours digging and decorating his grave so beautifully, by the organist playing and the choir singing, by Community Council members marshalling the traffic on the Sunday evening as well as on the day of the funeral, by the guard of honour provided by the Kilmeena GAA who also presented their flag to him, by the outstanding hospitality shown to family members who had travelled over from England, by Brendan Mc Ging, Undertaker, who oversaw everything and by Fr. Jim Walsh who along with Fr Fintan (Paddy) Lyons, Glenstal Abbey, Limerick, an old school friend, presided over his funeral in Fahy and whose help was invaluable. Pat will be very sadly missed by his beloved wife Maureen, sons Stephen (51 Kingsfield Road, Oxhey, Herts) and Neil (Albert Road, Harrow, Middlesex), daughter Anya (81 Nightingale Road, Rickmansworth, Herts), sisters Nancy Scanlon (Ballymacelligot, Tralee, Co.Kerry) and Margaret O'Toole (Horkan's Hill, Westport), In-laws, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends in London and Westport.
He was predeceased by his brother Michael Thomas McHugh (North Harrow, London) and his sister Bridget Mary (Westport).

Before removal home a Requiem mass for the repose of Pat's soul was celebrated in St Teresa's Roman Catholic Church, Headstone Lane, Harrow on Saturday, October 2. The celebrants of that Mass were Fr Richard Parsons and Fr Gerald Freely.
Pat lived his life by his motto of faith, Family and friends and the esteem in which he was held was amply borne out by the huge attendance at his funeral services in Harrow and Fahy.
He was laid to rest in Fahy Cemetery.
May his noble and caring soul have peaceful rest.

Courtesy of the Mayo news 30/11/10 Tweet

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