The Late Pat John Rafferty Tributes have been paid to a well known and respected Donaghmore teacher, whose name became synonymous with local history. Pat John Rafferty, who died aged 69, surrounded by his family, became a focal figure in the cultural and historical life of Tyrone and further afield. A lifelong GAA enthusiast and accomplished amateur dramatist, Pat John was born in Carrickmore in 1940, the second eldest son in a family of seven. He was educated at St Patrick's College Armagh and Queen's University Belfast, where he studied History. He began his teaching career in 1964 in St Helen's, Liverpool before spending two years in Nigeria, working with the SMA brothers, an experience that contributed to the development of his political consciousness. Afterwards he returned to his native Tyrone to take up a position at the newly opened St Patrick's College, where he taught history until his retirement in 1997, shaping the education and political understanding of several generations of Dungannon pupils. He married Mary in 1970, who taught Maths at St Patrick's Academy, and together they had four children, Conor, Elish, Susan and Maeve. Pat had an unparalleled grasp of the history of Tyrone and was an accomplished writer publishing articles in leading historical ad literary journals including such publications as Glimpses of Carrickmore and At School in Donaghmore. Throughout his life he championed the rich cultural history of the county as evidenced by his membership and leading role in a number of organisations such as Donaghmore Historical Society, and the Carleton Summer School. He combined his vast knowledge of local history with his skills as a public speaker to great effect in his recent role leading tourists on historical tours around Dungannon. He was at his most eloquent conveying the richness of the town's heritage to an enthusiastic audience. His desire to preserve the area' s literary heritage and communicate it to a wider audience lead to his involvement in the William Carleton Summer School which was established in 1992 and the Donaghmore Historical Society founded in 1983. His hard work and wide range of contacts lead to the summer school becoming one of Ireland's most significant literary festivals, attracting leading Irish writers and commentators such as Enda Longley, Tom Paulin, Seamus Heaney and Owen Dudley Edwards. In recent years he was a consultant and participant in the 'Return of the Earls' project organised by the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council and chair of the Dungannon History Forum. However, he had more than an academic interest in history. As a leading Dungannon Civil Rights activist he played an important role during a stormy period in Northern Ireland's recent history. He was Bernadette Devlin's election agent, and was a lifelong promoter of equality and democratic freedom. A talented sportsman, his athletic achievements including winning a GAA County Championship medal with Carrickmore plays in 1961 and running four marathons. He was also active in the field of amateur dramatics, producing and acting in numerous plays in Donaghmore and Carrickmore. After retiring from teaching in 1997, he devoted himself with greater intensity to local history and culture. He continued to work as a supply teacher and invigilator, including stepping in for a year to take over from his friend, the late Cormac McAnallen, Tyrone All-Star and football legend, after his untimely death left the A-level politics class at St. Catherine's College, Armagh teacherless. He had a wide circle of friends from all sections of the community. His son Conor, said that at his funeral there were enough volunteer coffin-bearers to carry his coffin from Donaghmore to Carrickmore. "Daddy was a great friend and a wonderful listener", he said. "It was a great tribute to his memory to talk to all the people whose lives he had touched. Even though he had a staggering range of interests and numerous commitments he was always there to help and support my sisters and myself. "He was there for us in countless emotional and practical ways. "He was also devoted to his grandchildren Julian and Alexanda." His friend and co-founder of the Carleton Summer School, Robin Marsh said: "Pat John's ease of communicating with people helped create that warm and friendly atmosphere which is a characteristic of the School. These efforts were a labour of love. "Pat John knew about Carleton; he had read widely in his work and understood both the writer and those Tyrone people whom he wrote about. "In a memorable address to the Summer School, later included in the School's publication, William Carleton: The Authentic Voice, Pat John told how the people amongst whom he was brought up spoke the same language and expressed similar attitudes to Carleton's characters. "As an eclectic reader and enthusiastic traveller, Pat John was a man of today's world yet he also refused to undervalue those traditional influences and determinants that shaped the community to which he was so deeply committed." His death is deeply regretted by his sorrowing wife, son, daughters, grandchildren Julian, Alexandra and mum Konnie, brothers James (USA), Hugh, sisters Esther, Sarah, Martha, Rachel, aunt Bridie, son-in-law, Paul O'Brien, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces and large family circle. A website dedicated to Pat John's memory has been launched at www.altmore.co.uk/pj. Readers are invited to contribute to the site or read the stories collected there. Courtesy of the Tyrone Times 5th May 2009 Tweet

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