It was with great shock and sadness that we learned of the sudden and untimely death of our esteemed colleague and Club Member and one our community icons Pat Branley on Saturday last 3rd May 2008. Pat was born in Colgagh, Calry in 1935. He commenced his Gaelic football career in Summerhill College and then played with Sean McDermotts, and after they folded up he played with Drumcliffe and later on with St. Columbas. Pat was one of the founders of the Calry Gaels GAA Club in 1972 and has been actively involved with the Club through its evolution to the now Calry St. Josephs GAA Club. He has occupied many and varied roles up to his untimely passing. He was a larger than life character with a sincere and deep interest in all aspects of GAA at Club, Division, and County and National level. During his long distinguished career with the club he served in many roles with distinction form initially playing, refereeing, one of the Club founders, Chairman, Treasurer, club team selector, Club Delegate to the County Board, Ciste Gael organiser, a Trustee of the Calry/ St Josephs Community Park, Scor, Launched the Club Lotto, Lotto coordinator, pitch development and maintenance, match official, and tremendous fundraiser. He was still heavily involved promoting and selling the Yearly Lotto tickets up to his death and his persuasive negotiation skill convinced almost all he met to purchase a ticker. As a fundraiser he contested the Calry Mayoral Election in 1980 and later was involved in a novel fundraiser of "Guess Pats Weight". He also served the GAA outside the Club as Chairman and member of the North Division Board, County activities committee, and delegate to Connacht Council Convention and a long serving member and worker of the Marchievicz Park committee. Pat was known far and wide within the county and indeed outside the county as a loyal and committed Sligo supporter and he travelled to many venues as a proud black and white supporter. He also travelled to London for the Championship games with London. He was a proud Sligo man in 1975 and 2007 when Sligo won the "Nestor Cup" and Connacht Title. Another proud moment for Pat was the Official opening of the Gaelic Pitch in Hazelwood in 1996 by Uachtarain CLCG Jack Bootman. Pat was awarded the prestigious "Club Person of the Year Award" in 1997 for his many years of committed and loyal service to the Club. We want to record our sincere appreciation for Pat's dedication, commitment and hard work to the development and promotion of the Club. The road to club success is always under construction and Pats continued efforts, enthusiasm and loyalty has helped progress the Club to its current healthy position. Pat was a true Gael, and a great community activist always willing to help others, and even with the changing society he held on to his deeply held values of integrity, honesty faith and love of neighbour. The contribution of individuals who work on voluntary basis has a unique quality because it stems from interest and commitment. Every community is immensely improved by the involvement of volunteers. Their work is encouraging and uplifting for all concerned. Pat was one of those community workers and a larger than life character who wore neither airs nor graces, and what you saw was what you got. Pat was the soul of the association as well as a pillar that keeps it in place. Pat has written himself into the history books of the Club as he stayed the course during good times and bad and kept the interest of the Club as one of his main priorities. He was very thorough and sincere in everything he did, and took no short cuts, and followed each task to a successful conclusion. Pat was a person who you always wanted to have in your corner, fighting your cause. In his passing we must say farewell to a community and sporting giant of his time. Pat was a solid neighbour of unlimited loyalty and a passionate supporter for what the club represents, and we deeply mourn his passing. Pat has left many memories for all to cherish from his long and distinguished career in the community of Calry St Josephs. Finally the community of Calry/ St Josephs is in deep mourning and shock and filled with profound sadness at the sudden death of Pat Branley. However the community is richer for his presence and we are all proud and privileged to have met and worked with Pat. We offer our sincere sympathy to Pats brothers Tom, Jim, Denis, Owen and sisters Mary, Margaret and Catherine and their families. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Courtesy of the Sligo Champion 7th May 2008 Tweet

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