Mannion, Patrick (Paddy)
October 16, 2012Born in 1945 in Ardkeel on the Creggs Road, just outside Roscommon Town, to Mattie and Mary-Ellen Mannion, Paddy was one of six brothers-Christy, Mike (RIP), John, Ollie and Mattie- and five sisters- Lena, Nan, Mary, Margaret and Bernadette. He took an interest in many sports from a young age. He was an athletics enthusiast and was successful in many events that he competed in. He also enjoyed playing Gaelic games, especially hurling.
In 1959, the two GAA clubs in Roscommon Town, St Coman's and Eoghan Ruadh, amalgamated to form Roscommon Gaels and Paddy Mannion was full-forward on the Roscommon Gaels U-16 hurling team that year that won the county final by defeating Tremane, a match played in Scardan that the whole team cycle to. Second level studies took him to the Vocational School in Roscommon Town and at the age of 15 he decided to join the Army apprentice School in Naas.
He spent nine years there and in 1968 he married Mary Gallen. Paddy then joined a gas company in Dublin in 1970 and the Mannion's spent 20happy years living in Dublin before returning back to Naas. They went on to have five children - Robert, Lisa, Yvonne, June and Debbie and doted over their 16 grandchildren- Katie, Patrick, Dylan, Jessica, Jack, Ava, Lucy, Robbie (RIP), Daniel, Leah, Aaron, Ella, Abbie, Evan, James and Cassie. Paddy always kept in touch with friends in Roscommon and he loved nothing more than taking a trip to visit his home place whenever the opportunity arose. Indeed many of his friends from Roscommon and former colleagues form the army and Dublin called to visit Paddy when he took ill.
A very religious man, he as a Eucharistic minister in the Church of the Irish Martyrs, Ballycane, Naas. Just a few weeks before his passing, he had taken a trip to Lourdes. Though his sickness became insurmountable, his faith never waned and it was a huge source of comfort to him in his final days. He had a remarkable generosity of spirit and the many people who knew him simply adorned him. He had an infectious smile, a big heart and a great sense of spirit and the many people who knew him simply adorned him. He had an infectious smile, a big heart and a great sense of welcome and inclusion towards people.
He was sincere as the day is long and was a wonderful husband and father. In 2005 he took early retirement and along with his wife Mary they enjoyed many trips to Australia and America to visit their son and his family. He adored his family and grandchildren and was always available to help people and was the sort that could take his hand to anything. The chief celebrant at Paddy's funeral Mass in the Church of the Irish Martyrs was Fr John Brickley. He spoke at length about the depth of personality that his family, friends and colleagues will always recall with such fondness, The burial took place in St Corban's Cemetery, Naas. He will be much missed by his wife Mary; son Robert; daughters, Lisa, Yvonne, June and Debbie; sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives and a large circle of friends. May he rest in peace.
(Text courtesy of the Roscommon Herald 16/10/12) Tweet
