Pat Reilly, a former vice-principal of St Tierney’s Primary School in Roslea, always showed a real empathy and compassion for children with all abilities. He died in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge last week.

Although he spent many years living in Enniskillen Pat spent his recent time living in Ware in Hertfordshire.

With a passion for politics and a real hunger for social justice he became involved in local government for a short spell, serving on the local council.

Pat became a keen photographer and was one of the ‘original’ freelance photographers in the county, working for many years primarily with the Fermanagh Herald but also the Irish News, Farmers Journal and the Anglo Celt. He learned his trade from Enniskillen photographer Shay Nethercott.

Born in Teemore, he was the son of Hugh and Rosaline Reilly. He received his early education at Garvary Primary School in Derrylin and St Michael’s College, as a boarder, before attending teacher training college at St Joseph’s  College in Belfast. 

His first primary school was St Oliver Plunkett’s in west Belfast in the late 1960s before moving back to Fermanagh to teach in St Aidan’s and St Eugene’s, eventually securing a permanent post at St Tierney’s Primay School in 1979.

He met and married Maggie May, from Maguiresbridge, and the couple had four children, eventually settling in Enniskillen in the early 1990s.

An exceptional family man, still living in Teemore, he brought his children everywhere with him including to St Tierney’s for their early education. 

Interested in life long learning, Pat kept up his own education, encouraging three of his children to follow his footsteps into teaching.

He was pre-deceased by his wife Maggie in 2011.

Pat is survived by his four children Roisin, Siobhan, Patrick and Aodh and 10 grandchildren. He also leaves a sister Mary McGoldrick. 

Arrangements for his funeral in St Mary’s Church, Teemore, are expected to be released shortly.