Paddy Malone

The death has taken place peacefully at Mayo General Hospital of Patrick Malone, a cherished member of a well-known and highly regarded local family.

He was aged 73 years, the only son of the late Martin and Catherine Malone, Derreenascobe, Killawalla. Born on May 26, 1934, Paddy grew up to appreciate the way Mother Nature energised the soil in the fields in the spring time to grow the crops and ripen the harvest in the autumn. He enjoyed growing up on the 26 acre family farm along with his four sisters.

He received a good education from the all Irish-speaking Derreendafderg National School. On June 30, 1959 he married Margaret Hoban from the neighbouring townland, Dereendafderg, Srah, and the couple were blessed with nine children.

Paddy had many natural skills in carpentry, welding, basket weaving, picture framing and he was also blessed with a great mechanical mind. His garage and tool shed near his house was his pride and joy.

He was a skilled card player and he enjoyed his regular game of 25. When Paddy was unable to travel out to the card games in later years his reliable card playing friends would gather in his home each week for a game. His other interests were reading and writing stories and poems. He was a great seanachai (story teller) and he got great joy from telling stories and recalling funny incidents from times past.

He loved meeting and talking with people from all walks of life. He also loved to go sight seeing. He enjoyed all types of sports and he eagerly looked forward to watching the Olympic Games every four years. He enjoyed playing his game of darts and his home was often the venue for a darts practice when the Killawalla darts team were taking part in competitions.

He was a self taught astronomer, using his acquired knowledge of astronomy to predict climatic and seasonal changes. He believed that difficult school subjects like geography and history were simplified by both young and old learning together.

For a period he worked with the telephone company, P&T, helping to bring the telephone lines to people’s homes, the ESB, the Irish Land Commission and Mayo County Council.

Among his farming fraternity he was recognised as a man with a great knowledge about the health of farm animals. He had the ability to detect an illness in an animal at an early stage and recommend a course of action and treatment to ensure that the animal was restored to full health.

Bhí grá mór aige ina teanga féin.  He had a wonderful appreciation of the Irish language and he oftentimes felt that prayer “as Gaeilge” was prayer from the heart. His nightly praying of the Rosary in Irish bore testimony to a man who lived his life in close harmony with his creator. His interest in the Gaelic language was fuelled by his weekly reading of the publication “Foinse”

He had a deep devotion to Padrio Pio and to St Therese.

Despite the onset of polio into his life in 1965 he never let his illness dominate his life.

For Paddy life was for living and he made the necessary adaptations in his working environment so that he could continue to make a valuable contribution to his family and community.

He loved the country side and when the opportunity presented itself he travelled with Austin Burke on day trips to various places of interest. The late Paddy Duffy, also a reliable friend of Paddy, provided a taxi service for the Malone family in an era when there were very few cars in the locality.

He always encouraged people to be at the front door to welcome home their children from school.

Paddy, who was a member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association for over 40 years, enjoyed attending céilís in Killawalla Community centre where he would sit and listen to the music and watch the dancing.

To his wife he was a kind and lovable husband, to his nine children he was a cherished father, to his grandchildren he was wonderful granddad and to his sisters he was a loyal brother and to those who knew him he was a special friend.

His funeral took place from Killawalla Community Centre to St Patrick’s Church Killawalla and after Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr Jack Garvey, Fr Tom Brady, Fr Michael Tracey and Fr Joe Gavigan.

The lessons were read by Katie Carroll and Danny Malone and the responsorial psalm was sung by Brian Gilmartin.

The Prayers of the Faithful were prayed by Oliver Malone, Noreen Gilmartin, Joanne Malone, Mike Malone and Sean Gilmartin.

Gifts reflecting aspects of Paddy ‘s life – a pack of cards, a book of poems, an accordion, “Foinse” newspaper, a basket and a Rosary beads were carried to the altar during the offertory by Shauna Bourke, Colm Bourke, Gary Gilmartin, Niall Ryan, Aoife Gilmartin, Sarah Gilmartin, Catherine Bourke and Paid Malone. The music and song of Brian Gilmartin and Marion Hoban enriched the Requiem Mass liturgy.

His month’s mind Mass will be celebrated in St Patrick’s Church, Killawalla on Sunday, March 2 at 10 o’clock.

To his wife, Margaret, sons, Martin, Joe, Eoin, Páid and Mike; daughters, Mary, Noreen, Catherine and Brigid; sisters, Nora, Mary, Eileen and Bridie; 27 grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and his many other relatives and friends we extend our sincerest sympathies.

Ar dheis de go raibh a anam dílis.