A South Tipperary farmer who died following a farm accident on Thursday last has been described by friends as ‘a lovely man who enjoyed having the craic’.
Patsy Coffey, from Castlegrace, Clogheen was a hugely popular man in the area and will be missed very much.
Patsy loved politics and was always eager to have a chat about current events. He served as chairman of the Castlegrace Fianna Fail Cumann for many years.
A member of the Duhill Drama Society, Patsy was, in recent years, the star of many shows as the MC for the night and would have patrons laughing before the show would even start! After many years of making the MC role his own, Patsy took on a dramatic role again in the society’s play, just before Christmas.
Patsy was also a familiar face every Sunday morning at the 9am Mass in Duhill, where he would ‘have the craic’ with his friends and neighbours before and after Mass, and would have a great chat with Fr Jim Denmead too. Fr Denmead led mourners at Patsy’s funeral Mass on Monday, February 5.
Patsy also liked to play cards and was a regular at the 45 Drive in Clogheen every Wednesday night, as well as a regular at the Duhill weekly game. He was an employee of Moy Isover for many years.
Patsy was married to Patrica and is also survived by their two sons and one daughter. He was predeceased by his brothers Gerry and, only last year, Mickey. His parents were the popular Castlegrace couple, Pa and Terry Coffey.
Patsy died on Thursday following an accident on the family farm. The Avondhu correspondent for the Clogheen and district notes, expressed widespread disbelief in the area following Patsy’s death which resulted from an accident at his farm last Thursday (Feb 2nd).
“Patsy was a gentle giant and a friend to everyone over a very wide area. Patsy’s wit, good humour and his gentleness was what you got when you met Patsy. He was a daily visitor to Clogheen for the paper where he would meet all his friends and the day in politics would be discussed. He might finish with a joke and then he would be on his way. Patsy was involved in politics, drama, 45 card game, sport and farming. He loved life to the full,” the Clogheen notes read.
Patsy was predeceased by his parents Pa and Terry Coffey, brothers Mickey and Gerry and his nephew Pat Fitzgerald. Patsy Coffey, you will be sorely missed by all. May your kind, humorous and gentle soul rest in peace. Patsy’s remains were removed from his home to Duhill church on Monday last for Requiem Mass and laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.
To Patsy’s heartbroken wife Patricia, sons Gary and Kenneth, daughter Emma, grandchildren, brothers Brendan, Martin and Willie, sisters Kathleen, Gretta, Jenny and Mary, uncle John and aunt and all his extended family, we extend our sincere sympathy.
