PatFarrell- AnAppreciation
IT was with great shock and disbelief that we learned of the recent death of well known retired bank manager and family man Pat Farrell. The sad and hardly credible story of his passing was relayed throughout the county by family, friends and former colleagues.
Pat was born in Baltinglass, County Wicklow, the only son of Paddy Farrell and Connie Cullen and brother to Therese. He later moved to Colliga, Knockanarrigan, Donard, in the beautiful Glen of Immal under the shadow of Lugnaquilla.
After completing his Leaving Certitifcate in Carlow, Pat joined Allied Irish Banks and after a short time worked his way up the ranks to management while working at AIB offices in Carlow, Naas, Tallaght, Urlingford, Kilkenny, Claremorris and Wexford.
He was an old fashioned banker in a world where the customer was king and the relationship was maintained by excellent service.
Top of the agenda in Pat’s life was his total love and dedication to Attracta, the woman and life partner of his dreams.
He adored his children, Conor, Tara and Orlaith and was a great mentor to them in their chosen fields of endeavour, encouraging them in every way.
When Caitlin and Leo arrived a great new role as grandad came into being.
Pat’s love of the GAA and horse racing was legendary. In the GAA over the years, he followed Wicklow, Longford (the home of his father Paddy) and Kilkenny.
However, all this was surpassed by his love for the Wexford GAA and the county teams. He was a dedicated member of the Wexford GAA Supporters’ Club.
He followed Wexford football and hurling with a passion and was so looking forward to the 2017 Leinster and All-Ireland campaign.
Horse racing, especially National Hunt racing, was the other main sporting passion in Pat’s life and he was equally at home in Punchestown, Cheltenham or Aintree as he was in Wexford Racecourse.
Pat had an incredible skill of gathering many friends during his lifetime and he had the even better skill of losing very few of them. It was a mark of the strength of those friendships when so many of his friends from all parts of Ireland turned up over the days of the funeral at his home in Colliga House and at the Church of the Assumption, in Bride Street, to pay their respects.
It take a special person to maintain friendships that go back over 40 years and Pat was brilliant at that. In times of celebration or sorrow, Pat would always give you a call to share, to advise or to help in any way he could. He was a very loyal person and that loyalty was reciprocated.
He had a great sense of homour and loved a good prank. It didn’t matter whether he was the instigator or the victim, as long as he was central to the action, he was happy.
Pat was blessed to have a great sense of family and a great collection of friends. Those who knew him well were blessed to have shared so many good times with him.
He was laid to rest in Barntown Cemetery, a location he chose himself because, though Wicklow born, his heart needed to rest in Wexford. May He Rest in Peace.
Mass will be celebrated at Barntown Church at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. – From Pat’s family