deceasad members

This piece on our deceased members was written by Michael McMurrough who has now sadly passed on as well

Deceased members: Over the last 20 years our Society has seen the coming and going of quite a number of members. I would like us to concentrate our minds on those members who, unfortunately, have since passed away.

The first one I remember was Billy Rafferty who passed on, following a long illness, in July 1974. I personally remember Billy because we had lived together down in St. Peters Parish, and, he along with Charlie Ccx another ex Roddies member) asked me to join. the Society.
We then had the MclIduff brothers, Paddy and Jimmy. Paddy, I can remember vividly, as we had worked together in Rice's Bookies on the Andersonstown Road and always had a few drinks in "Fruithill on Saturday evenings after work, again in the company of two other ex-Society members Paddy Duffin and John mc laverty

The first President of our Society, Bridie Dolan, and the second President, he, sister Maureen Dolan, passed on. These were quickly followed by Paddy McLaughlin. Many of us wilt remember with very fond memories. Paddy's cheerful outlook on life if you're going to go. you may as well go enjoying yourself". This became very true as I remember visiting Paddy in hospital the year before he died when I spoke to him about our weekend outing to the Green Isle Hotel at Naas outside Dublin, Paddy asked the doctor how long he would be in hospital as he wanted to be on the coach that week with the rest of us. The doctor informed him that he couldn't travel. You can all imagine Paddy's answer. I then had a quiet word with his wife Liz who told me that she wasn't prepared to stop him, Well Paddy did go with us that weekend and I can't remember anyone enjoying themselves so much, he even finished up on the stage on Saturday night, dressed up the same as the Bend, playing a tambourine. Sadly he died not long after that.

We now come to Pat Monaghan, one of the founder members of our Society, who was tragically knocked down outside our clubroom grounds in February 1992 and subsequently died on 26 February 1992. Pat was always a very hard working member who was adept at fund raising, Throughout the last 20 years Paddy was responsible for many schemes that helped to raise thousands of pounds for the Society. He was so fondly thought of that, following the completion of the building of our new snooker room, we decided to call it the ''Pat Monaghan Room the first time we even agreed to name a room after one of our own members Paddy will be sadly missed.

Another member of our Society to pass on was Sean Campbell who died on 31 May1992, just three months after Pat Monaghan, Sean was also a good worker for the Society having spent sortie time on our Entertainment Committee. Sean died following en illness.

The last member of our Society to pass on was Paddy OReilly. Paddy felt ill on Monday, 0 March and died on Friday, 12 March 1993. Always a very genial and happy person- Paddy. as with all our deceased members, worked hard for our Society. He was always willing to carry out any duty asked of him, he also will be sadly missed,

We also remember an ex-past chairman of our former society, Seamus Twomey, who died, while unfortunately being away from home, We in the Society were given the great honour of providing his funeral with a guard of honour.

That takes me on to an honorary member, Gene Quigley from New Jersey USA. Gene, in his own way, helped to further many of the causes we in the Society expounded. He will also be remembered for his visits to our clubroom in Corrib Avenue before we moved to Moyard House.

I sincerely hope that I have not forgotten any of our deceased members and I would like to say that I hope many years will pass before another member passes on.

Thank you

Michael McMurrough