The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
ENNIS was plunged into mourning earlier this week following the sudden death of one of the town’s great GAA characters.
Pat Fitzpatrick, ”Coraveen” Lifford, Ennis, and formerly of Killimer died in the loving care of staff at University Hospital Limerick on Tuesday.
The remains of the 75 year-old father-of-two were removed from his residence on Friday morning for Funeral Mass at 11:30 o’clock in St Joseph’s Church, with burial afterwards in Drumcliffe Cemetery.
Members of his beloved Éire Óg GAA club formed a Guard of Honour for Pat outside his residence on Friday morning.
In a tribute post on the Éire Óg Club website, a club spokesman said it was with huge shock and sadness the town learned of the untimely passing of their club stalwart.
“Pat has been involved with the club for many years in a variety of capacities and has made enduring friendships with young and old.
“His roles varied from club chairman, county board delegate and ordinary member at administrative level. Pat has been a huge driving force for football in the club down through the years, taking on roles as joint manager/selector with club senior and intermediate teams for more than 20 years.
“Pat was a selector on the Faugh’s senior football championship winning side in 1994, selector with minor winning sides in 1994, 1998 and 1999 and U-21 winners in 2000, with several teams marked out on paper in the shed at his garage on the Tulla Road.
“Wherever Éire Óg kicked a ball or pucked a sliotar, Pat was present. However, he liked nothing better than travelling to football days back in West Clare and the banter on the journey back to town.
“Pat was also a Clare minor and U-21 football selector.”
The club offered its deepest sympathy to Pat’s family, his wife, Catherine, who shared in his love of football, his son, Brian, who is involved in training men’s and ladies teams in Éire Óg, his daughter, Grainne and all the Fitzpatrick and Glynn families as well as his wide circle of friends in the club and beyond where he will be sorely missed.
He is sadly missed by his loving wife, Catherine, daughter, Grainne, son, Brian, son-in-law, Andrew, Brian’s partner, Aoife, grandchildren, brother, Vincent, sisters, Nora and Mary, cousin Andy, relatives, friends and neighbours.
Dan Danaher
