Farewell to Dr. Paddy as Dr. David waits in wings

Farewell to Dr. Paddy as Dr. David waits in wings

26 March 2014

A STRANGFORD doctor has handed the reins of his practice over to his son to continue 100 years of family tradition.

Dr. Paddy Moore has retired after serving the local community as a GP for 34 years and now his son Dr. David Moore has become the fourth generation of Moores to work for the local practice.

The first Dr. Moore, Dr. Patrick Mary Moore, from County Meath, moved to the area after graduating from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin.

He met his wife, Anne McStay, while working in Kilkeel Hospital before moving to Killough to set up a practice with Dr. Murphy.

In 1908, he took over the GP surgery in Strangford where he remained until his death in 1931.

His son, Patrick Joseph Moore, who was also a graduate of the Royal College of Surgeons, took over his father’s practice in 1933 when he was 23.

He became the first chairman of the Strangford Village Association, was a local representative on the East Down Rural District Council and a member of the Down Industrial Development Committee.

A keen sailor, he was a member of Strangford Sailing Club serving as commodore in 1961 and 1967.

When sailing one of his two dinghies, Accase and Urgent Call, he always had his patients in mind and knew that if he heard one gun fired during a race that meant he needed to return to shore immediately.

His son Dr. Richard Patrick Moore, known to most as Dr. Paddy Moore, entered the practice in 1980 under Dr. Nick Napier and soon became a partner alongside Dr. Una Small.

Like his father, Dr. Moore has an interest in sailing and as a youth he worked weekends in Sharvin’s Bar, which is now the Cuan.

Dr. Moore is a founder member of Down Residential Project, now called Mainstay DRP.

When he retired he was presented with a cheque from his Strangford friends, which he donated to Mainstay DRP, of which he is chairman.

During rare slack times, Dr. Moore admits he enjoyed watching the ferry cross the lough outside his practice window with a cup of tea in hand.

He has now passed that pleasure to his son Dr. David Moore who will continue the traditions of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.