Hard-working Pat was a loving family man and a loyal friend
PATRICK, (Pat, Paddy) Galvin, late of Ballinglen, Arklow, and formerly of Brackloon, Eyrecourt, Co Galway, passed away peacefully, on April 27 at San Remo Nursing Home, Bray, surrounded by his loving family after a long and bravely borne illness.
Pat was born on September 28, 1938, into a farming family in Co Galway, to parents Frank and Mary Ellen (née McEvoy) Galvin, brother Michael and Brendan and sisters Mary, Bridget and Rose.
They were a hard working family, raised on the harsh at times, but idyllic nonetheless banks of the River Shannon.
Many tales and mischievous adventures from his youth were recalled during the period of Pat’s wake and funeral by his siblings, friends and relatives.
Pat moved to London in 1957 and worked there and in Liverpool in various jobs, including bus conductor and barman.
During this time, Pat struck up a friendship with Johnny and Patsy Walsh from Ballinglen. This friendship determined the path his life would take. A visit to Co Wicklow and an introduction to the boys’ sister, Ciss Walsh, led to marriage in September 1961 and a return to live in Ballinglen shortly afterwards.
Pat and Ciss went on to have a family of five children: Joan, Rosemary, Paul, Elizabeth and Patrick.
Pat dedicated his life to providing for and rearing his children in financially challenging times. This role, he fulfilled with both pride and immense love.
Pat continued to do bar work and spent a number of years in the NET factory in Arklow. His great love and passion, however, was always the outdoors, gardening and growing vegetables and many varieties of plants and trees.
Each Christmas, Pat spent many long hours making and decorating holly wreaths and was widely known throughout the community for this.
He also enjoyed the market in Wexford on Sunday mornings, providing plants and flowers and many other unusual items. Here, he made many friends and as he would regularly say ‘the craic was had’.
Pat was granddad to nine grandchildren – Órlaith, Niall, Brónagh, Conor, Adam, Emily, Ciara, Muireann and Hugh – each of whom he loved and was extremely proud of.
Pat’s faith in God was firm and without question, which gave him the courage and strength to endure his long and difficult illness, always with a smile.
Pat Galvin was a good husband and father, a loyal friend, a wheeler dealer, a grafter, a man of mischief and one with a good sense of humour. He was a man of many hats.
Those whose lives have been touched by Pat, are all the richer for being given that privilege.
May he rest in peace.