Mr Malachy McGrady

MR Malachy McGrady, who died last week at the age of 90, was one of the great men of Downpatrick, the town he was proud to call his home and of which he was a model citizen.

He was an outstanding figure who gave so much to his town in so many ways.

He had an abiding sense of duty, of serving others, of providing to help to those less fortunate than himself. A devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, he was imbued with a strong religious faith and understood the value of community.

The Downpatrick community turned out in force last Thursday for his funeral service. St Patrick’s Church, which was so dear to him, was filled to capacity by mourners from all denominations. The chief celebrant at the requiem mass was his son, Father Feargal McGrady, who spoke about his father’s love for his family and his commitment to others.  Also in attendance were Bishop Anthony Farquhar, Father Tony Devlin and Father Colm Curran. 

Mr McGrady, who was affectionately known as MB, was the fourth youngest of eleven children and was brought up in Market Street above his father’s tailoring business. He attended St Patrick’s High School where he acquired a keen interest in education and learning which was to remain with him throughout his life.

In 1951 he established the chartered accountancy practice of MB McGrady & Co, which developed and prospered over the years. He was joined in the business by his late brother, Eddie, who was later to become the MP for South Down. In 1964 he founded the insurance brokerage McGrady Insurance.

Mr McGrady and his wife, Colette, were blessed with six children, Fionnuala, Fintan, Feargal, Declan, Malachy and Aisling, and, later, ten grandchildren.

Family life was important to Mr McGrady and in his homily Father Feargal spoke movingly about family events, such as holidays abroad, referring to them as “formative experiences.”

A deeply religious man, Mr McGrady lived his life according to strongly held Christian principles and was a faithful member of his parish. He played a leading role in the building of the new transept in St Patrick’s Church in 1993 and was chairman of the first Downpatrick Pastoral Council. In recognition of 

his services to church and community he was made a Knight Commander of the Papal Order of St Gregory the Great. He was also a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre.

In public service he had few equals. He took an active interest in the affairs of the Russell Gaelic Union, successfully campaigned for a museum in Downpatrick and was a member of the Lecale and Downe Historical Society.

He cared passionately about the health service and was a former chairman of the Downpatrick Hospitals Management Committee and the Northern Ireland Central Services Agency. He was vice-chairman of the NI Hospitals Authority and the Eastern Health Board. He was also 

for ten years the sole lay member of the UK General Medical Council for ten years.

He was proud of his Irish heritage and had a great love of the Irish language. Despite suffering a stroke in the mid 1990s he studied for a diploma in Irish at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown and emerged with a commendation — the only member of his class to do so. He was also a lifelong Pioneer.

He enjoyed sport, particularly Gaelic games — he was a great supporter of the Down football team — and was also a member of Downpatrick Golf Club.

Mr McGrady lived an exemplary life. He was decent, upright, kind, compassionate and utterly dependable. He was a gentleman who commanded respect through his actions and made the most of his considerable talents.

The sympathy of the community is extended to his family.