Funeral takes place of well known Ennis resident

A WELL known figure around Ennis, Paddy Haren died last week, with his funeral taking place on Monday.

Paddy was a very well travelled individual, who was originally from Cappalea, Kilmaley, and who had lived in Ennis for a number of years, having travelled the world as a younger man.

At the time of his death Paddy was 76 years of age and had endured some poor health, before becoming ill last week.

Speaking on Tuesday his niece Bridget Haren said that Paddy had travelled to a very wide away of places, and had been a carpenter for some 50 years. “He worked all over the world. He worked in the Co-op store in Kilmaley when he was around 11. Then he moved into Fawl’s Bar in town and was bartending in there. He would have emigrated to England at the age of 16. After his apprenticeship he was a foreman all over Britain. Then he went to work n Australia, he was there for five years, he was in Korea, Alaska, Germany, France. He worked in Disneyland in Paris, he was building the bridges there. He could look at any drawing and be able to do what was required.”

Bridget said that Paddy had helped young people to get work when they emigrated to the UK, and he had been a huge help to two of his brothers. “He got my father Michael and my uncle Martin their first sub contracting job over in England, which got them started in business.”

He had come back to Co Clare around 20 years ago, and had worked for a number of years here. “When he came back to Ireland with my father they built bridges all over the country, the Living Bridge in UL was one they worked on.”
Bridget said he had attended mass daily. “He would have been a very religious man, would have gone to mass every day in the Cathedral. He loved music too, loved listening to music and when he was younger he would have played the flute.”

Over the years he had become well known around Ennis, being a familiar figure to many people. “He talked to everybody, anyone who saluted him he’d salute them back. He had great time for everyone, especially for younger people, he’d always want to know if you were working and say to mind your job. He could trace any date in history, he could remember things like that, he had a great mind.”

She said that since his passing, a lot of people have described him as a gentleman, reflecting the esteem he was held in.

Owen Ryan