Paddy Reilly "I have come to say goodbye to my good friend". Those words spoken by a friend at the funeral of the late Paddy Reilly Carrowkeel, Clogher, reflected the aura of friendship enjoyed by the numerous people who knew Paddy. Indeed Paddy's life revolved on the pivot of friendship. It was friendship that fuelled his great desire to serve others in so many different ways. As a long serving member of the health care team in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar, Paddy radiated friendship to those he cared for as well as his work colleagues. While he enjoyed his work in the Scared Heart Hospital, he also played a very important role in the development of his native Ballyheane community and his adopted community of Clogher. To his native community he gave his best especially through the Ballyheane Dramatic Society where, as an actor in the numerous locally produced plays, he brought warmth and happiness to the lives of audiences in the local and surrounding communities through humourous portrayal of the play's characters .One of the first plays, in which he took part was 'The Troubled Bachelors', where he teamed up with Michael Tomas and the late James Fadden. Young and old came and to those plays to enjoy moments of laughter, suspense and the 'happy ever after' endings. His participation in the Tops of the Town competition gave further endorsement to his brilliant acting skills. While he was a gifted actor he was also blessed with creative hands. With those hands Paddy crafted beautiful Christmas cribs and excellent reproductions of traditional thatched houses. As a man who lived his life in close harmony with his Creator, he was an enthusiastic gardener. He loved to give Mother Nature a little helping hand as he nurtured the freshly sown flower seeds to produce a wealth of colourful flowers. Paddy was a man with many talents and he believed that those talents should be used to enhance the lives of others, and this he did through his membership of Ballintubber GAA club. He worked hard each day to foster a strong community spirit and encourage each footballer to reach their full potential . He was indeed very proud of Clogher football pitch, the home grounds of Ballintubber GAA club, and enjoyed working on it, regularly mowing the grass, marking the pitch and maintaining the dressing rooms. Paddy was delighted when a member of the Ballintubber GAA club stepped across the threshold to play for his county, and his delight reached a climax when his own son, Lyndon, was selected to play for the Mayo Senior football team. When a Ballintubber player played in Croke Park in a match with the Mayo team, Paddy always ensured that the Mayo and Ballintubber flags were raised high on the flagpoles at Clogher pitch to mark the occasion. Along with the former Mayo footballer, JP Keane, Paddy was a member of the Mayo U-16 and Minor management team for a number of years. during which he brought a number of success to the county. In appreciation of his huge contribution to the development of underage Gaelic football in Mayo, a large number of the underage players whom Paddy coached, and encouraged on the road to success came on both days to his funeral to bid their farewell to their treasured football mentor. Many tributes were paid to members of Ballintubber GAA club and Paddy's friends for the beautiful way they prepared Clogher playing pitch dressing room from which Paddy's funeral took place. He had a wonderful appreciation of local history and folklore and this appreciation fuelled his interest in maintaining his vintage Ferguson tractor in good condition. Along with his good friends and work colleagues Martin Forde and Tom McGrath he took part each year in the vintage tractor rally fundraiser in aid of the Friends of the Sacred Heart Hospital. For his funeral from Clogher and in Carnacon church the mourners came in large numbers. Each one brought their own special memories of Paddy Reilly form Coolodge, Ballyheane, a man who will be fondly remembered for his unquenchable desire to pass on his pride in his community and his belief that we should hand on our community to the next generation a little better than we received it. During his period of illness his positive vision never quavered as he trusted in the medical team caring for him and as he believed that one day he would be restored to full health. Alas for his family and those who cherished the Clogher gentleman, his illness brought Paddy to the end of his earthly journey which was punctuated with many great moments for those who had the privilege of walking along the road of life with him. During his Requiem Mass, concelebrated in St Mary's Church, Carnacon by Fr Jack Garvey, Fr Frank Fahey, Fr John Murray, Fr Des Fahey and Fr Pat Donnellan, Paddy's son Lyndon and daughter Leanne and Tom McGovern sang tributes to Paddy. An excellent tribute to Paddy was read by his good friend, JP Keane, Claremorris, former manager of the Mayo minor team. On both days of his funeral representatives of the carious groups to which Paddy belonged formed a guard of honour as his funeral left Clogher and arrived in Drum cemetery. To his wife Angela, son Lyndon, daughter Leanne, brother Liam, sisters Nellie Duffy and Kathleen Clarke, and his many other relatives and friends we extend our sincerest sympathies. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Courtesy of the Mayo News 26 October 2005 Tweet

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