Dempsey, Patrick
December 15, 2010The family and friends of Mr. Patrick Dempsey, Clonard Little, were deeply saddened by his death last week following a brief illness. Mr. Dempsey who would have celebrated his 78th birthday next week, became ill only a week before being admitted to Wexford General Hospital where he died on December 8.
He is survived by his beloved wife Margaret (Peg); his sons Gerard and Philip; his daughter Margaret; his five grandchildren; his sisters May, Anna, Kitty and Betty and by his extended family and friends.
He was predeceased by his only brother Seamus.
A son of the late James and Annie Dempsey, Patrick was born and reared in Barntown. He worked for many years as a miller in the old Wexford Co-operative and throughout his life, he was an enterprising net fisherman and a skilled repairer of lawnmowers.
He loved the river and regularly fished in a boat around Ferrycarrig and later Ballinaclay. He also loved hunting rabbits and was one of the first people to bring ferrets into Ireland. He bred ferrets at the time and sold them to other hunting enthusiasts.
He was an expert at fixing lawnmowers, and people from far and near would bring him their machines to repair.
A fit and active man, he was an All-Ireland champion handballed in his youth.
Patrick came from the generation of men who could hunt and fish and fix things. He was hard-working and resourceful and looked after his family all his life.
His wife and family were always his priority.
He will remembered by all who knew him as a gentle soul and a kind and religious man who said the Rosary every night with his wife right up to the time he died.
His funeral Mass in Clonard Church was celebrated by Fr. Denis Lennon, assisted by Monsignor Lory Kehoe who was a childhood friend and his former parish priest in Clonard.
Among those who did the readings were Patrick's grand-daughters Emma Louise and Dawn Dempsey.
Burial took place in Whitechurch Cemetery in Glynn where his Peg is from.
Courtesy of the Wexford People 15/12/10 Tweet
