Roscommon IFA activist widely mourned
The late Paddy Halligan.
Roscommon IFA activist widely mourned Mr Paddy Halligan, "Ava Maria", Drum, Athlone, whose passing took place at the Sonas Nursing Home, Athlone, on Saturday, March 7th, was one of South Roscommon's most prominent and best known IFA activists extending over 30 years.
Aged 85, he was a native of Collogorriff, South Roscommon, and he had been lovingly cared for at Sonas in recent years. The deceased operated a wholesale fruit business in the midlands for a number of decades and was noted for his business acumen, tact and discretion in all his dealings with the general public.
Paddy was also a part-time drystock farmer and his lifelong interest in farming affairs initially led to his involvement with his local Clonown IFA branch where he held the posts of both chairperson and secretary at varying intervals.
The flooding in Clonown and along the Shannon callows was an issue which he pursued diligently within the IFA both locally and nationally. He served as chairperson of the Shannon Flood Action Committee and also as a representative of the IFA on the Shannon Forum. He also pursued the flooding issue and other rural development matters with diligence while serving on the IFA Rural Development Committee for a number of years.
Former IFA president John Donnelly referred to his commitment to the farming community and flooding issues generally in a public tribute over the weekend, March 7th to 11th.
Paddy was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and he performed innumerable neighbourly deeds and kind acts in his residential community with typical self-effacement down the years. He was an engaging conversationalist on a one-to-one basis and his affability, innate decency, listening skills and genuine nature enabled him to retain many lifelong friendships with a wide age range.
He also took a keen interest in current affairs and rural affairs generally. Hundreds of people attended the reposing in Drum Parish Hall on Monday evening and the Concelebrated Mass in St Brigid's Church, Drum, on Tuesday, March 10th, including former IFA Presidents John Donnelly, South Galway and John Dillon, Limerick.
The burial took place in Drum Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Kitty; daughters, Irene and Colette; son, Sean; son-in-law, Rob; Sean's partner, Peter; grandchildren, Katie, Caoimhe, Juliet and Eve; sister, May; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives.
His IFA colleagues throughout the midlands and west formed a guard of honour at St Brigid's Church on Tuesday.
