Duagh remembers the late great Fr Pat Moore

OVER 200 dear friends of the late, great Fr Pat Moore lit candles in his cherished memory in a special ceremony in Duagh on Saturday remembering the Asdee native on the first anniversary of his untimely death.

It was an event – organised by the Duagh Development Association – that also saw a special memorial bench to the late cleric unveiled outside the Church and Presbytery where he had been parish priest for so long.

“It was a very special week for people in the parish of Duagh and Lyreacrompane as we remembered Fr Pat Moore with deep fondness on the first anniversary of his death,” organiser Sandra Maher said.

“Fr Pat Moore was a lot more than just a parish priest. He was also a friend with a warm heart and big smile with a welcome for everyone he met. He really brought community spirit into the parish so we decided to erect a beautiful bench in his honour on the church grounds, to which we would hope people would come and take time to sit and reflect on their fond memories of Fr Pat.”

They came in their hundreds to Duagh in the sunny evening in clear demonstration of the degree to which Fr Pat touched the lives of so many right across the county. Numerous clergy were among the number too, concelebrating the Vigil Mass on Saturday before a special blessing of the memorial bench outside the Church. Over 200 of the gathering lit candles that were placed in a glass jar around the new bell tower, in a lovely spectacle lighting up the night while the commemorations continued in a marquee.

Duagh Development Association commitee members Emma Batton, Shannon McCormick, Marie Maher, Rita O’Connor, Batsy Maherand Sandra Maher at the new seat commemorating Fr Pat Moore.