Moran, Patrick
July 31, 2012Falduff, Louisburgh
Mr Patrick (Paddy) Moran, Falduff, Louisburgh, who has died, was a highly-regarded senior figure in the historic parish of Kilgeever.
A member of the farming community and a retired County Council staff member, he was son of the late Patrick and Ellen Moran of Falduff.
He was aged 91 years and was predeceased by his beloved wife Mary Ann on October 31, 2011. They had been married for 62 years and her passing was a cross from which Paddy never recovered. She was truly the light of his life.
Apart from his devotion to his family which took precedence over everything else in his life, Paddy had an abiding passion for sport. He loved Mayo football and had the distinction of seeing the county win three All-Ireland finals, 1936, 1950 and 1951. At a time when motorised transport was in its infancy in Ireland, Paddy used his trusty bicycle to bring him to football matches in which Mayo were involved to most of the well-known GAA ground throughout Connacht. Years later he brought all the boys in the family to football finals wherever they were taking place. He gave his club allegiance to his native Louisburgh and he was among the first to offer his services to manually drain the new GAA pitch in Louisburgh. This was before any mechanical help became available.
While gaelic football was his first love, Paddy liked nothing better than to relax with his friends and his pint and watch a Premiership League game on the big screen in Joe McNamara's.
Paddy had a keen interest in politics and was an out-and-out Fianna Failer. He was there in the good times promoting the party and his loyalty never waned in the bad times and especially in the last two years.
His family always came first with him. He and Mary Ann raised their children on a small holding and such was his farming husbandry that he made sure every inch of land was put to full and productive use. He was much sought-after in Falduff and other parts of the parish wherever farm work had to be done, such was his taste and knowledge of agriculture.
When it came to socialising he loved family occasions and the company of friends. Fishing was one of his pastimes and, as with farming, he had a knowledge of the sport that far surpassed that of regular practitioners.
He will be very sadly missed by his sons Paraic, Austin and Peter, his daughter Kathleen, brother William (Birmingham), daughters-in-law Noreen, Julia and Mary, son-in-law Mel, grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 18 nieces and nephews, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Large crowds gathered at Sweeney's Funeral Home to sympathise with Paddy's family before his removal took place to St Patrick's Church, Louisburgh, where Fr Mattie Long, PP, officiated at the reception ceremony.
The chief celebrant of the Funeral Mass was Fr Mattie Long, assisted by Fr Richard Gibbons, Parish Priest of Knock, a cousin of Paddy's and An tAthair Padraig O Maille, Louisburgh and Dublin.
Family members took part in the funeral liturgy, reading the lessons and prayers of the faithful and bearing the offertory gifts to the altar.
In the Mass homily many tributes were paid to Paddy for his devotion to his family and his community, his deserved reputation as a good neighbour and friend to many. He had now been reunited in Heaven with his beloved Mary Ann, his wife of more than 62 years.
Paddy was laid to rest in Kilgeever Cemetery. Peaceful rest to his generous and caring soul. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal.
Courtesy of The Mayo News, Tuesday, July 31st, 2012. Tweet
