NEWS FROM SAOIRSE
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The Voice of the Irish Republican Movement.
Republican Sinn Féin
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| NEWS FROM SAOIRSE
(freedom).
The Voice of the Irish Republican Movement. Republican Sinn Féin
|
THE death took place of Patsy Farrell of the Connolly Folk Group in Mullingar Hospital on October 29. A native of Rathowen, Co Westmeath he was 73 years old.Patsy was a firm friend of Republican prisoners and of the Republican Movement. During the late 1960s and 1970s he worked in England and toured Irish clubs and places of entertainment with his Connolly Folk Group, singing rebel ballads and Irish national songs.
He composed many of these himself, including the famous Ballad of Máire Drumm which he sang with great feeling. He showed moral courage when IRA bombs began to explode in England in the 1970s. Patsy continued to perform and tour as usual.
Back in Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s, he was a noted performer at Republican functions. He will be remembered particularly for playing and singing down the years at the annual Testimonial Dinner for Republican Veterans sponsored by CABHAIR (Irish Republican Prisoners' Dependants Fund).
The removal took place to Rathowen Church on Hollow Eve. A great gathering of traditional musicians, Republican and local people attended the Requiem Mass the next day, November 1. Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, Uach-tarán, Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Councillor Seán Lynch and Stephen Fulham represented the Republican Movement.
Mick Foster playing during the Mass and Tony Allen sang his own composition The Green Willow. They make up the group Foster and Allen from nearby Ballymore, Co. Westmeath.
The coffin, appropriately draped in the Tricolour, was borne to Russagh Cemetery where interment took place. Seán Thompson of the Connolly Folk Group played at the graveside with his brother Séamus and other musicians.
Sad to relate Patsy's brother Michael died in England on the day before his own passing. To his sons, daughters, sisters and a wide circle of friends, sincere appreciation and sympathy are conveyed.
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Web layout by SAOIRSE -- Irish Freedom November 9, 2002 Send links, events notifications, articles, comments etc, to the editor at: saoirse@iol.ie. |
