Mr Patrick Madine

MR Patrick (Paddy) Joseph Madine, who was a loving father, grandfather, uncle, friend and retired council employee, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2016, aged 70.

He was a gregarious and joyful man, who always enjoyed the company of others and travelling to new places to live and work around Northern Ireland and England.

Those who met him never forgot him and was known for his kindness. He treated all the same — with absolute respect — but had an ability to find the characteristics in every individual to turn into a humorous joke. 

Paddy was born in Downpatrick and was the youngest son of Francis and Elizabeth Madine. He was a loyal and loving brother to Maggie, Jimmy, Frankie, Josie and Johnny. 

Paddy grew up mainly in Bridge Street, but moved to Birkenhead to be with his sister, Maggie, at a young age. He loved attending Breen’s Picture House in Downpatrick as a child with his brothers.

He also had a love of showbands and would travel far and wide to enjoy them. He was seen regularly on his bike on the roads at all ages of his life traveling to see them, going to work or visiting family and friends. 

He trained and worked in 21 jobs in his lifetime. From a labourer with HJ O’Boyle at Queen’s University, working in Killyleagh Mill and finally as a binman in Birkenhead in the Eighties. He was known for his height, strength and positive attitude to hard work.

He also worked for Our Lady’s Church in Birkenhead as a trusted and highly valued member of the volunteers who went out into the parish to assist the elderly, troubled and immigrants. He decorated their homes, renovated their gardens, counselled them in their troubles and comforted them with prayer.

He was particularly proud that he and his nephew were chosen to be stewards during Pope John Paul II’s six-day visit to the United Kingdom in 1982 as a result of the high esteem in which he was held by the church for his services. 

Paddy met and married his wife, Jane, in ten days in 1972 and had three children, Michelle, Sheila and Pat. Michelle sadly died in infancy which brought great sorrow to the family and Paddy in particular. He was very proud of his daughters and their achievements, both having graduated from university. 

He especially loved being father-in-law to Neil and was a devoted granddad to Amy, who, like her mother, Sheila, before her is attending Queen’s University.

Few will forget Paddy and his long, outlandish but true stories of his adventures and misadventures. He was born the weight of a bag of sugar but grew into the tallest, strongest and loudest of the Madine family.

However there was a gentle sensitive side to him in the love of his children, grandchild, many nieces and nephews in the family and the vulnerable people he helped throughout his life. He is still remembered fondly in England for his larger than life presence and escapades with his nephews and nieces.

He enjoyed casinos and horse racing as did all the family. His later life became troubled with addiction but came back to the family following a diagnosis of dementia.

He resided first in Geanann Care Home, Dungannon, then Ringdufferin Nursing Home, Toye, Killyleagh for seven years and was surrounded by many of the friends he had known all his life, who and treated him like their own family. They all enjoyed his jokes, singing and dancing. His daughter, Sheila, lived nearby and visited and took him out regularly. Pat, now living in England, visited when possible and needed.

All of the many different colleagues from all the many different jobs Paddy had throughout his life will recall working with him.

Paddy was very much the heart of the family far and wide, being the only surviving child to Francis and Elizabeth. He is now at peace from the torment of dementia and with them all, his nephews and daughter Michelle. He will be missed by all those who knew him.