Man always willing to lend a helping hand

Mr Patsy Murray

MR Patrick (Patsy) Francis Murray, of Drumaroad Hill, Dunmore, passed away on Monday, December 19, in Lagan Valley Hospital, Lisburn, following a stroke a week earlier. He was 80.

Patsy was the oldest surviving son of his parents, Mary and William Murray. His mother was previously married to Barney McAlister, from Clanvaraghan, but was widowed after a farming accident at home leaving her with three young children, John, Cassie and Mary Rose, to raise alone.

She later went on to marry Willie Murray and together they had eight more children. Their first two boys died in early childhood, but they were later blessed with Patsy, Henry, Anne, Richard, Liam and James.

Patsy attended Drumaroad Primary School and later St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick. In his youth he enjoyed playing Gaelic football and working alongside his siblings on the family farm.

On leaving school in the late 1950s Patsy, like many others before and after, emigrated to London seeking work and adventure. In 1964 during one of his holidays home he met his future wife, Pauline McCartan, from Castlewellan at a ceili dance. They later married in 1968 and went on to have five children — John, who died in infancy, Liam, Rosaleen, Ronan and Oonagh.  

In 1970, following the untimely death of both his parents, Patsy inherited the family home place and subsequently built a new house for his growing family. Patsy was happiest out and about on the family farm where he kept sheep and beef cattle. He loved and respected the countryside and all nature had to offer; a love and interest which he passed to his children and grandchildren.

Despite being quite content at home, Patsy and Pauline travelled for holidays abroad and enjoyed family visits to his brothers, John and Richard, in Canada and his sister, Cassie, in England.

Well known in his local community, Patsy was a founder member of Drumaroad Bowling Club where he was secretary and enjoyed many a competitive evening on the mats. In his later years he was a member of the local Men’s Group, meeting every Monday morning in Oasis Community Centre. He greatly enjoyed the away trips and the good company of friends and neighbours until ill health failed him. 

A hard-working family man with a kind nature, Patsy was always happy to do anyone a good turn. A generous man with his time, he readily offered a helping hand and kind word for other local farmers, neighbours, family and friends. Being sociable by nature Patsy was easy company. For a time, he enjoyed taking part in whist drives and he and Pauline enjoyed many a ceili and attending country music dances and traditional music seisiúns.

Education was important to him and he readily encouraged his children to complete third level studies, often commenting that “education is easily carried; it won’t ever break your back” — a motto that’s often now repeated to his seven grandchildren, Róisín and Eithne Murray, Rory and Eoin McCreanor, and Finn, Amélie and Eunan Parr.

Patsy endured illness with good humour and a positive outlook. He will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by his wide family circle, friends, neighbours and all who knew him.

His funeral mass was held in St Colman’s Church, Dunmore on Thursday, December 22, where many gathered from near and far to pay their respects. He was later laid to rest in nearby St John the Baptist Cemetery, Drumaroad.