Popular Tipperary native makes long overdue trip home

Lovely!

Cahir native Patricia Rackham (née O’Flaherty) returned home recently after spending a very memorable holiday in her home town of Cahir.

Patricia was on the organising committee that invited Cahir for the first trip to the Scarborough festival in June of 1994.

Cahir GAA Club members at the time (among them our own John Quirke and Andy Moloney) played hurling and football exhibition games and challenged the Scarborough Rowing Club in tug of war.

The trip was a great occasion and remembered fondly still by all that travelled.

Patricia shares her time between Suffolk where she now lives and Cahir’s Twin Town of Scarborough where she spent much of her life.

Patricia said of her visit “Cahir will always be home to me, unfortunately due to Covid, etc I haven't been here for a while. My daughter Siobhan and my Granddaughter Tara organise a little holiday for us every year and this year it was a joy when they told me that this year would be holidaying at home in Cahir!”

PICTURED ABOVE: Presentation to Cahir Native- L to R John Quirke, Cahir GAA Chairman Larry Queeney, Patricia Rackham, Siobhan Austin- Guest, David Walsh & Andy Moloney

Patricia is the twin sister of local man Colm O'Flaherty and she said it meant everything for her to spend time with Colm, his wife Geraldine and other family members and also have the time to catch up with valued school friends Theresa Farrell and Anna Butler and enjoying a catch up with John Quirke, Ann Lonergan and Andy Moloney too.

To finish their stay in Cahir, good family friend Fidelma Nugent treated them to ‘The Ceili In The Kitchen’ in Bunratty Castle which they said was truly amazing!

The ladies stayed in Cahir House Hotel and felt lucky to stay there as they couldn't find fault in anything. They thanked to Cahir House and especially David Walsh for the lovely stay there.

A presentation was made to Patricia on her day of departure much to her surprise. Larry Queeney, Cahir GAA Chairman presented a plaque to Patricia as a token of friendship from Cahir and a few words were spoken by John Quirke & Cllr Andy Moloney and David Walsh along with her daughter Siobhan stood for a photo to complete the surprise. Now back in Suffolk Patricia says the plaque has pride of place in her house.

Next year Patricia hopes to collaborate with the Kevin O'Connor School of Irish Dancing in Scarborough to assist them with making a visit to Cahir.

The hope is to fill a Coach from Scarborough, for people to enjoy perhaps 4 to 5 days in Cahir. Kevin would like his dancers to give displays of Irish Dancing.

Patricia said: “I am delighted to be involved and with the help of Andy Moloney I am sure we will get there.

Cahir and Scarborough are twinned, my two homes, so let’s keep the connection going”.

Patricia finished by saying. “My heart will always be in Cahir”.