Finneran, Paddy
January 31, 2012Aged 96, he was a member of the farming community who contributed much to the community life of his native parish and area for over 70 years. He was a member of the Taughmaconnell Macra Na Feirme Club back in the forties and he was also an activist in the LDF and FCA at parish level over that time period.
He extended his farming interests by way of involvement with the Athlone and Midland Show Society and local creamery co-op at Monksland. He was a founder member of the Show Society back in 1951 and was the chief steward in the sheep section from then until the show ceased to be staged at Shannonside in the early nineties. Following the death of Right Rev. Mons John McCarthy, PP, St Peter's,Athlone, in the mid-eighties, he succeeded him as president of the show society. He was also an NFA and IFA activist over the decades. His main lifelong hobby was Gaelic games.
He was a founder member of the Padraig Pearses GAA club in the early sixties and maintained an active interest in the affairs of the club up until recent years when he served the club as its honourary life president. He was a county minor selector for over a decade in the sixties and seventies and a selector at U16 level for a number of years. He was also an active member of the old South Board of the GAA and was noted for his ongoing support for all Roscommon GAA teams at all home and away venues. A feis in Taughmaconnell was held annually on his land for a number of decades and football was also played in one of his fields by local teams for many years.
He was also a member of the Taughmaconnell Community Centre Committee for some time. He was also actively involved in local political affairs in South Roscommon from the late forties until the mid-seventies and he served for over two terms as an Independent member of Roscommon County Council. Devoted to his immediate and extended family, he was noted for his neighbourly deeds and his affability and genuine natured enabled him to make many lifelong friendships over a wide age range. A deeply religious person, his caring and compassionate nature shone forth on all occasions.
The last surviving member of a family of four boys and three girls, he was predeceased by his wife, Eileen on May 15th, 1994 and is survived by three sons and two daughters, namely, Very Rev. Michael Finneran, PP, Cloontuskert; Ned, Onagh, Taughmaconnell; Mrs Phil Kenny, Barrymore, Kiltoom; Pat, Ballymurray, Roscommon and Mrs Sally Brooks, Antrane, Taughmaconnell. He is also survived by 20 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, three sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Concelebrated Mass at St Ronan's Church, Taughmaconnell on Saturday week last the burial took place in the nearby cemetery. Dr John Kirby, Bishop of Clonfert, presided at the Mass, which had his son, Very Rev. Michael Finneran as chief celebrant.
- Courtesy of Roscommon Herald, 31st January 2012 Tweet
