Pat Leacy was a devoted family man and Wexford goalie
A local man known for his devotion to his family as well as a lifelong interest in sport and community service recently passed to his eternal reward.
Pat Leacy, who was in his 91st year, died peacefully in his home at 97 Bellefield Road, Enniscorthy, on Saturday, February 8.
Pat grew up in 52 St John’s Villas, being the elder son in the family of seven, of Sylvester and Margaret Leacy.
He was predeceased by his sisters Nellie and Kathleen, and his brother Michael.
He began work as a telegram boy at Enniscorthy Post Office in July, 1943.
He became a postman in 1947 - a life he enjoyed in the Ballindaggin area.
In 1956 when Post Office vans arrived he served the people of Monageer, Glenbrien, and Ballymurn.
He later became Postal Sorter which was a post he held until his retirement in 1992.
Growing up Pat became very interested in the GAA and one of his proudest moments was playing in Croke Park in 1945, where his local club beat the famed St Vincent’s club, in Dublin.
Pat later became the County Wexford football goalie and he spent many years playing with the famous players Nicky Rackard, Padge Kehoe, Sam ‘Wilkie’ Thorpe, Paddy Kehoe and many others.
A game he featured in, the Leinster Senior Football semi-final between Wexford and Meath in 1949, features in Sean Óg O’Ceallachain’s book because of the bizarre score line.
Meath beat Wexford by 14 points to four goals and they were the eventual All-Ireland Champions.
However, Pat’s boast was that no goal was let into the Wexford net on that occasion.
On January 12, this year, Pat was honoured by the Seana Ghael Committee when he received an award in acknowledgement of him reaching 90 years-of-age.
The award was also to thank him for his service to the GAA.
When Pat’s football days ended he trained as a swimming teacher and was one of the founders of the Enniscorthy Swimming Club in 1979.
Hundreds of local children learned to swim at Ferrybank Pool, Wexford, where Pat took two bus loads of children every Saturday for many years. In July, 1984, he began Swim Week in Morriscastle and one week of his annual two weeks holiday was spent on the beach there teaching local children and holiday-makers how to swim.
Through Irish Water Safety this practise is still on-going today.
In 2003, Pat was involved with the Canadian swimming team when Enniscorthy hosted the Canadian Special Olympian team and his home was home to some of the Olympian swimmers during their stay here.
As well as his sporting prowess
Pat was a great community person. Shortly after its inception he became a volunteer with Enniscorthy Credit Union and served on many committees.
After 40 years he was presented with an award for his services to the organisation and Enniscorthy Tidy Towns and the Town Council also presented an award to him for his service to his neighbourhood.
For many years Pat kept the park at Bellefield Road free of litter, having been one of the first residents to develop the green area as a park.
Family meant everything to Pat and he adored, and was in turn adored, by his five children and 11 grandchildren.
He was interested in all aspects of their lives and intensely proud of their achievements.
Pat was a life-long Pioneer and a daily mass goer, whose faith was of paramount importance.
One of his great pleasures was his annual visit each September to Lourdes, a place he held very close to his heart.
A very obliging individual, Pat was widely regarded as a real gentleman whose loss will be keenly felt.
Fr Odhrán Furlong, Adm., assisted by Fr Ricky O’Connor and Fr Colm Murphy, celebrated his Requiem Mass in St Aidan’s Cathedral for which appropriate music was by Lorna Mahon Wall and Ger Lawlor.
During the ceremony readings were given by his daughters, Sinead and Fiona.
Prayers of the faithful were read by his grandchildren, Sarah Gleeson, Ruth Gleeson, Caoimhe Gogan and Aoife Leacy.
The bread and wine were borne by his twin granddaughters, Laura and Niamh Leacy.
Following the Mass a Guard of Honour was formed by Post Office colleagues and GAA friends, and burial took place in St Mary’s Cemetery.
The Chief Mourners included: Pat’s wife, Lily; his children, Patricia, Fiona, David, Paul and Sinead; grandchildren, Sarah, Ruth and Mark Gleeson, Emma, Conor, Laura and Niamh Leacy, Cormac and Caoimhe Gogan, Aoife and Eimear Leacy; his sisters, Peggy, Mai and Angela.
His passing is also mourned by his brother-in-law, sisters-inlaw, nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives and many friends.
May his gentle soul rest in peace. Pat’s months mind mass will be held on Sunday, March 22, at 12pm in St Aidan’s Cathedral.