Ollie Swift helps family members attach Pat King’s GAA jerseys to his coffin
THE parish priest of Holy Cross Church, Canon Joseph Mullin, PP told mourners at last week’s funeral of Pat King how he had paid him a visit on Good Friday and he had come away, with a deep sense of admiration and enrichment from ‘this inspiring, articulate and wise man’.
There was a huge GAA representation at the funeral, comprising players, ex-players, officers and former officers, at club and county levels, and from Clones Golf Club where he was a hard-working member and events organiser.
The club, where Pat taught his grandchildren the game, was represented by the president, Frankie Dolan and the ladies captain, Rosita McCabe, an ex-pupil of Pat’s at St Eugene’s College, Roslea.
Canon Mullin, the principal celebrant, was assisted by Canon John McKenna PP, Trillick, Fr Brian D’Arcy, CP Rector, The Graan and Fr Gary Donegan, CP, the parish priest of Ardoyne, Belfast, another past pupil.
At the start of the Mass, four of Pat’s eight grandchildren carried up symbols of his life to the altar, a photograph of the eight with their grandfather, a football, a golf club and a canoe paddle.
The readers were two of Pat’s lifelong friends, James Morgan and Brian Maguire (Lisnaskea). Five grandchildren along with Pat’s niece, Roisin King led the Prayers of the Faithful and, at the end of Mass, one of Pat’s three brothers, Stephen, read a reflection.
The choir comprised Tina O’Keefe (nee Murray), also a past pupil, and the Hanna sisters and, at the Communion, three of Pat’s grandchildren sang, ‘The Flower of the May’, prompting applause.
A large guard of honour awaited the remains as they were carried out of the church for burial at the adjoining cemetery.
The coffin had earlier been carried all the way from Pat’s late home in Mountview Drive, draped with the four GAA jerseys he had worn with distinction in a playing career that only ended at the age of 46 – Trillick, Tyrone, Ulster and Lisnaskea Emmetts.
St Joseph’s Training College, Belfast where Pat did his teacher training, was represented by Derry’s Jim McKeever, PE lecturer, who brought Pat into the Ranch’s first team in his fresher year. The team captain, Paddy Diamond (Antrim) was also there.
The Trillick 1974 team, ‘the first of five’ Tyrone league winners, for whom Pat King played at midfield, was led by the team captain, Barney McAnespie and, likewise, the Ulster Vocational Schools committee on which Pat served.
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