Petewasatrue friendtomany
He was as popular as he was widely-known and respected as one of the great characters of rugby throughout Leinster and beyond as a player and former President of Dundalk and later as a referee with a jovial, generous, hospitable and gregarious nature and wit enriching many lives.
But first and foremost Peter Mulligan, or Pete as he was affectionately known, was a family man.
He took very seriously and cared deeply for his wife and family, and played a big part in the lives of his grandchildren, extending more recently to his great grandson.
He was also a true and helpful friend and neighbour in the wider sense of a life that brought him all over the world.
This largely resulted as he established a successful business. He went about it in the only way he knew, working extremely hard to forge a livelihood and provide for his family in the wake of the closure of S & S Engineering in 1985 in the midst of a tough recession. The Ardee Road plant employed 600 workers at the height of its production.
Pete, a fitter engineer by trade, set out on his own to primarily service and sell the large corrugated paper machines that were formerly built in S & S.
He still stayed true to his roots, continuing to live and contribute handsomely to the community in which he was born and reared, setting up his own home next door, at New Road, Bellurgan, when he married.
He was one of a large family. His parents Vincent and Brigid lost two of their children in infancy.
Tragedy also befell Pete and his wife Ursula (nee McKenna) when one of their twin daughters Siobhán at the age of 23 was fatally injured in a road accident beside their home.
Pete re-acted in a typical, caring and positive fashion in being part of a voluntary spontaneous response to make the road safer by succeeding in building a much-needed footpath.
His school years were spent at the Christian Brothers in Dundalk and Bush College, and he went on to work in S & S.
He very much played a part in his community through sport in his younger years. He played soccer and Gaelic football with Bellurgan and Saint Patrick’s GFC, but it was rugby which became a life-long passion when he started playing at 18.
He graduated to play with the Dundalk first team, adapting to the role of wing forward from hooker. His greatest honour was to assume Presidency of the club, a role that he filled for three years from 2001 to 2004.
His family embraced his love of the game and the Dundalk club where he would turn his hand to jobs that needed doing, whether cutting pitches or painting in the clubhouse.
Glowing testament to the impact that he made in the sport was the enormous turnout at his obsequies and the heart-warming tributes paid to him, and the Guard of Honour by the Dundalk club.
This was of great comfort to his family, who were touched by the large number of former work colleagues who turned out and had many stories of Pete’s generosity and humanity that he never divulged.
The turnout for his funeral was one of the biggest witnessed in the parish.
The other big part of his rugby involvement was as a referee at which he showed he was a man before his time, adopting a dialogue with players that was not part of refereeing in those days.
The regard that Pete earned and the friendships that he made in this phase of his rugby career strikingly rang true in a tribute paid by the Boyne club, describing Pete as outstanding in the field of hospitality and as a character. “We simply loved the man.”
The writer elaborated: “Apart from his playing days Pete became better known to us as a referee and we revelled in his social company following our games. The revelry after games and the social aspect of the game was probably looked forward to more than the game itself.”
The tribute concluded: “May the rugby hereafter rejoice and welcome a very special aficionado and continue to be enriched, as we were on this earth, with his presence.”
Dundalk spoke of the deep sadness and loss of a dearest friend, and of his humanity, warmth and hospitality, good humour, modesty, kindness and sincerity.
The club also commented that his professionalism in each role in which he represented the club was much admired.
Pete experienced declining health in his final years which he was happy to spend with his family. Pete and Ursula celebrated 51 years married in October.
He passed away peacefully at his residence surrounded by his family on 1 December, 2019.
His passing leaves a gaping void in their lives, but with so many happy memories and prayers and thoughts of such a wide circle of friends to help sustain them.
He is survived by wife, Ursula, daughters, Lorraine, Rachel and Clodagh, sons, Peter and Jamie, sons-in-law Wally, Seámus and Ian, daughter-in-law, Marie, Jamie’s partner Carla, grandchildren, great grandson, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
He reposed at his home on the Sunday and Monday before being taken to Saint Mary’s Church, Ravensdale on Tuesday. Father Stephen Duffy PP celebrated Requiem Mass assisted by Father Pádraig Murphy. Father Duffy delivered the eulogy.
His daughters Clodagh, Lorraine and Rachel laid symbols of his life before the altar.
His grandchildren, Danielle and Shane gave the readings, while the Prayers of the Faithful were led by grandchildren, Ben, Alex, Orlaith and Ellie.
The Offertory gifts were presented by sons, Peter and Jamie.
Jamie shared a reflection on his father with the overflowing congregation that drew a resounding round of applause.
The music and singing provided by Lisa McGuinness and Liz McConnon enhanced greatly the ceremony.
Pete was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery.
The Month’s Mind will be celebrated at Mass on Sunday, 29 December, in Saint Mary’s Church, Ravensdale at 11.30am.