An Appreciation: The late Pat Buckley, Finnahy, Upperchurch

In life there are doers and there are talkers. Generally speaking, the talkers continue to just talk, but the doers go on to become giants of their community; confidantes of many; the pillars upon which parishes are built.

The late Pat Buckley, Finnahy, Upperchurch who was laid to rest in his native soil this week, was a doer - a man who never cursed the dark, but rather lighted a candle; a man for whom there was no mountain which could not be climbed; and a man who always found a way to open even the most stubborn of doors.

Perhaps that is why such an outpouring of sympathy enveloped the hills around Finnahy late on Friday evening when news of his passing, aged 74, became known. Yes, Pat had been in failing health, but it was simply so hard to believe that one of Upperchurch’s brightest lights had been extinguished.

Pat had illuminated his parish in so many ways. As a young man, he was a brilliant athlete - perhaps the hills around Upperchurch afford him the perfect ‘at altitude’ training ground and he won many county championships while also representing Tipperary in the national finals - a wonderful achievement.

He had turned his hand to hurling too and was a highly regarded exponent of the ancient game, but the irregular nature of the code at the time for a junior club, encouraged him to seek his pursuits elsewhere.

Pat had attended school in Coolderry NS and in Templemore CBS. But, it was always going to be farming for Pat, and what a farmer the sector gained when he returned to look after the local homestead and holding.

He was a progressive man in all things and agriculture was one of his passions. It was only natural that he would develop the family farm and he was to transform it into a substantial enterprise thanks to knowhow, determination and sheer hard work.

Pat would never ask somebody else to do something that he was not prepared to do himself - he would lead by example and through his work on the farm he inspired many others to also look to the future, seek to progress, and better their own individual businesses.

Farming in the uplands can be challenging at the best of times, but Pat Buckley embraced the challenges and found ways to circumvent difficulties. Together with his wife Margaret who hailed from just over the hills in Borrisoleigh, Pat found new ways of farming his dairy herd and he was always more than willing to share his ideas, his experiences and his expertise to anybody who called upon him for advice - and there were very many down through the years.

The regard in which Pat was held, was universal. Often prophets are not recognised in their own locality - not Pat Buckley. He talked the talk, but he also walked the walk and there are very many examples of how, with his stewardship, his community developed and progressed, his parishioners benefitted, and his neighbours and friends were empowered to take control of their own place.

The community childcare facility in Upperchurch is one such example. The Upperchurch Development Association came up with the idea and brought it from concept to reality - Pat was Chairman at the time and together with Margaret and many others including his great friend Con Ryan (Glown), they drove every step of the journey to create what is now a thriving business in the heart of the village.

Another example - the creation of independent living accommodation also in the heart of Upperchurch village through the Society of St Vincent de Paul of which Pat was also a lifelong member. What a success story this has been and again what an enormous contribution this project makes to the community.

Of course with all of these major infrastructural projects came huge red tape, paperwork, dealing with government departments, architects, contractors etc etc. It would be enough to drive a man to drink - not Pat Buckley. A lifelong member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, Pat was proud of his lapel pin and proud of what it stood for and represented.

While he was also a main driving force behind the local Macra na Feirme group many years ago, and also the famous Ned O The Hill Festival which opened the doors of the ‘Church to the public at large, Pat also looked beyond his parish and was heavily involved in the Irish Farmers Association and the Mid Tipperary Mart Group of which he was a former chairman.

He cared about the welfare of the farmer, and the animal too, and he used his vast experience to try and better the lives of both.

Pat Buckley was a great man to chat and to converse with. Whether it was the weekly, or daily, trips to neighbours and friends in his locality; the conversations after Mass in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Upperchurch; or the casual meeting with people from so many different walks of life, or circumstances, he was at ease. He treated prince and pauper alike and remained true to the Christian values instilled in him from a young age by his parents - Pat’s faith never wavered.

Even when the big health challenges presented - and there were many over the last few years in particular - Pat would face his trials with stoicism and strength. His final hours gave credence to that strength - Pat loved life, respected what had been given to him from his Maker, and fought the good fight before slipping away quietly in hospital in Cork.

There are so many different ways in which Pat Buckley will be missed in Upperchurch Drombane. His smile, his sense of humour, his pleasant demeanour, his vast experience, his generosity, his knowledge, his willingness to share so much with others. But, it is in Finnahy that he will be missed most. His son Larry continues the farming tradition having followed in Pat’s steps. The cows will still be milked, the silage will still be cut, and the fields and ditches will still be tended to. But, something will be missing - Pat.

His loving wife and best friend Margaret, son Larry, daughters Claire Ryan, Mairéad Maxwell and Angela, brothers Eddie and Willie, sisters Margaret Ryan and Mary Kennedy, sons in law Declan and Tom, daughter in law Mary and Angela’s fiancé Anthony, his adored grandchildren Tadhg, Caoimhe, Moira, Clíodhna, Diarmuid, Lorcan, Grace, Eoin, Aoife, Gearóid, Conor and Seán, sisters in law, brothers in law, nephews, nieces, extended family, relatives, his large circle of friends and wonderful neighbours, will miss Pat greatly. They are at a great loss this week.

A devoted husband to Margaret, the Buckley home in Finnahy was a happy one, with Pat taking great pride in the many achievements of his children. And, with the passing of time and when grandchildren arrived on the scene, Pat and Margaret delighted in their presence and in the many riches and graces they brought, and continue to bring. The circle of life was turning full circle and as a farming man, nobody understood that better than Pat.

The parish that Pat had worked so hard to bring life to and sustain, came to a stop last weekend. Finnahy was in mourning as hundreds came to pay their respects and offer their support to the bereaved. At O’Dwyer’s Funeral Home on Sunday evening, the line of visitors grew longer and longer as the rain fell on a dark November evening. Perhaps the gloomy elements were in keeping with the sense of sadness as light gave way to dusk and eventually darkness.

But, Requiem Mass on Monday was a celebration of Pat’s life. Chief celebrant, Fr Tony Ryan, PP, Upperchurch and Drombane spoke with great affection about a man he had come to know so well over the last number of years. He spoke of his deep faith and his commitment to nourishing that faith through his very many great deeds, acts of charity and his attendance in the church - he was very familiar indeed with the sanctuary in which his Remains now stood, he said, and he passed on that sense of faith to the next generation as well.

If Pat Buckley had one final wish, Fr Ryan opined, it would have been to walk his youngest daughter Angela down the aisle of that very church this week for her wedding to her fiancé Anthony. He had held out hope of being able to do so, but the Lord had other plans, and instead Pat will be with Angela in a very different, but special way at the end of this week.

Those who were fortunate enough to have crossed paths with Pat Buckley on his life’s journey will say a silent prayer for a gentle giant and recall a man of great integrity, honesty and honour. They will acknowledge a man who gave much, who asked little in return, and who made an enormous contribution to his people and his place.

They will be thankful for having known him; grateful for having befriended him; and full of gratitude for having enjoyed his company and his counsel for even just a brief spell.
Surely that is a fitting tribute to a great man.

May God’s Heaven be Pat Buckley’s blanket as he gently sleeps.