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North Munster Masonic Centre, |
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W.Bro. Paddy
O'Connell R.I.P.
The following speech was delivered by his good friend Mr. John Loftus at Paddy's funeral service on Friday 27 January 2006. The sentiment expressed was poignantly shared by all who knew Paddy and for that reason it is now reproduced here with the kind permission of the author. "I am privileged to have been asked by Paddy O’Connell’s family to address you all this morning. To attempt to pull the many strands of Paddy’s life together in a few minutes is a nigh impossible task. (But, here goes!). I have had the good fortune to know Paddy well for about 30 years - Paddy of the impish sideways glance, the broad smile and the belly laugh. He was master of the quick retort and took special pleasure in putting people in their place, if he thought they warranted it. Shaun O’Dowd tells the story of when he and his band were becoming really big in venues throughout the country. Success was inclined to swell Shaun’s head. On a particular night Paddy was standing to the side of the stage as the show ended and hundreds of fans screamed for more. Going off stage Shaun asked Paddy “Would you like to be able to sing, Pat?” to which Paddy replied, “I would, Jack, would you?”. Anything Paddy did he approached with relish, gusto and passion. From representing Ireland as a UN soldier in Cyprus in the sixties, to managing many successful bands (chief among them Shaun O’Dowd and Ding-A-Ling) and venues in the seventies and eighties, and, for many years, up to the time of his death, in his work with Advance Securities. He was a father figure and true friend to that company’s owner, Pat Slattery, helping make the company the success it is today. But then Paddy O’Connell undertook every task with boundless energy and enthusiasm. This was especially so when he joined the Freemasons about 10 years ago. Next to his beloved family, the Masons were his passion. He threw himself into the organisation, full of pride and determination, leaving his indelible mark whilst totally re-invigorating his cherished Lodge 333. It was heart-breaking for him that, just before his death, he was unable to officiate at the ceremony of his son David’s elevation to the Chair of Lodge 333, taking over from himself – a unique achievement! Freemasonry is often misunderstood. If you want a true picture of the embodiment of the craft you only have to look at Paddy O’Connell’s life - his generosity; his unstinting loyalty and sense of goodness - he lived and breathed the essence of Freemasonry. He would have been a very proud man at his removal last night when a mould was broken as many of his Masonic brethren marched in full regalia through the main street of Croom – a fitting tribute to a beloved brother Mason. Paddy would have been equally proud that his coffin was draped in the National Flag in tribute to his UN peace-keeping stint, and to have seen the large attendance of musicians, band managers, dance-hall owners, BNI members, co-workers, neighbours and, most dear of all, his family and friends. Paddy O’Connell was a friend in the truest meaning of the word. He never judged; he was loyal; unselfish with his time and energy; he never hesitated in giving. He had a special “grá” for young people and always gave them the benefit of any doubt, with the phrase “Ah sure didn’t we do worse ourselves”. His passing will leave an enormous void in lots of areas of our lives. We can only begin to understand and appreciate how devastating his loss is to his close-knit family. Margaret, Alan, David and Daniel were his life. We can only re-assure them of our love and support into the future. Paddy and I had lots in common – not least our serious health problems over many years. But, despite this, we both got on with our lives and didn’t let these setbacks unduly throw us off track. We shared the philosophy that if being alive meant you could not live, then you were better off dead. Paddy took that philosophy to his grave. Dear friend I shall miss you in more ways than I now realise. You were always there in good times and bad – a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, somebody to bounce ideas and dreams off, a real pal to confide in. You always gave a truthful answer. I’ll miss our nights out together with Margaret and Trish and Valerie and Pat. The craic, the banter, your ability to raise the hackles of the three women with a throw away remark, stories too numerous to tell, beautiful moments in time. Where you were, laughter was inevitable. During those last few weeks, when you were very ill in hospital, I spent many hours with you. We both knew that you had a real battle on your hands to survive. But you had survived so many times in the past that I fully expected you to do so again. You expressed your doubts to me but when you did pass away I found it very difficult (I’m still finding it very difficult) to accept that I’ll never again see that glance, that smile, that laugh. I still expect you to pop your head round some corner and say something like “Ah-ha, I really fooled you all this time”. But I have to accept that you won’t be back. I am privileged to have lived so much of my life in your company, to have learned so much from you. You were larger than life in so many ways – in your deeds, your dignity, your determination, your love, your generosity. Your leaving leaves a void in all our lives and is best summed up in the words of songwriter Don Maclean: “And I wonder if you know, That I never understood, That, although you said you’d go, Until you did, I never thought you would”
Goodbye Paddy, dearest friend – I’ll not meet your like again."
And we lament his death for his legacies are fond memories of a man of principle, vision and kindness. Paddy will be very much missed by his many friends in Freemasonry. MAY THE GREAT ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE ALLOW HIS GENTLE SOUL TO REST IN ETERNAL PEACE
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