Downes, Paddy
September 27, 2011
The death occurred at Roscommon County Hospital on Thursday, September 15th of Mr Paddy Downes, 5 Church Road, Castlerea.
Paddy, who would be 87 years in October was one of Castlerea's oldest and respected residents. He was liked by everybody, young and old. He emigrated to England in 1945 and returned to Castlerea in 1948. He was a hard worker and worked on the buildings all his life with Gerdie Gannon, Peter Finan and Pake Quinn of Castlerea and the Hynes brothers, Leamore, Ballymoe.
He was a great man to read books and there would hardly a week pass that he wouldn't visit the local library to collect books. He was a fountain of information and a great historian and had a great knowledge of families living in the town and surrounding areas. Indeed many families used to call to him to find out where their relatives lived and he was always able to help them out. He had a great memory and for this he will be sadly missed. In his youth he was a keen sportsman. He was a member of the Tarmon minor football team beaten in the 1942 county championship final.
When the Castlerea GAA club was reformed in 1954, after a lapse of 19 years, Paddy had a major role in it. He played in goal for a few years and was also an officer of the club. He was always a great supporter of the club and only the day before he passed away he was asking how the Castlerea St Kevins teams were faring in this year's championship and leagues. He was also a great Roscommon supporter and followed their fortunes in the last twenty years by listening to their games on the radio. He also took a great interest in how the school's teams in the parish were performing on the football field. He also took a great interest in Castlerea Celtic Soccer Club and when they won the Roscommon and Connaught cup double in 2010 they brought the cups down to Paddy for a photo.
He had a great interest in the Castlerea Brass and Reed Band and was one of the main men behind its reformation in 1993. He played the base drum for a short time. He was a great man to give advice and would always put you in the right direction. He was a kind and gentle soul and he will be missed in the community as a whole and by his many friends. But he will be mostly missed by his brothers, Eamon, New Road, Castlerea; Michael (Southhampton); Dominick (Poole, Dorset); Kieran (Birmingham); sisters, Nancy (New Zealand); Margaret (Yeovil, Summerset) and Geraldine Corcoran, Arm, Castlerea; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends. His remains were removed from Gaynor's Funeral Home to St. Patrick's Church, Castlerea.
Burial took place on Sunday morning in St Joseph's Cemetery Castlerea after 12 o clock mass. Mass for the repose of his soul on Monday morning was celebrated by Rev. Fr Michael Donnelly, assisted by Rev. Fr Peter Moloney. His coffin was draped with the Castlerea St Kevin's GAA flag and a guard of honour was provided on Saturday evening.
- Courtesy of the Roscommon Herald 27th September 2011
Most Read Stories