People from near and far gathered in the Westville Hotel, Enniskillen, to attend last Saturday night’s launch of Joe Pat Prunty’s book - Joe Pat Prunty: A Lifetime of Football, Fields and Faith. 

The packed hall was a tribute to Joe Pat and his family, and was indicative of the esteem in which he and his company are held.

Among the large attendance were people well known from the sporting and business world, as well as many old friends and neighbours from Rosslea. 
All enjoyed the tremendous display of photographs, as well as refreshments afterwards. 

Maria, Joe Pat’s daughter served as MC at the event, when the book was launched by Peter McGinnity, a noted footballer and Rosslea native, who spoke in warm terms of how Joe Pat was a local hero of his and a big inspiration to him in his early footballing years.
J.P. Prunty, he said, was a gentleman on and off the pitch and in and out of business. 

Norrie Emerson, of Norman Emerson and Sons, Lurgan, in an enjoyable speech, spoke of the great bond of friendship that existed between the two families, cemented by a strong Christian faith. He said that the trust between the Pruntys and the Emersons was so good that they seldom bothered with dockets.

He recalled how they were surprised, but delighted, with the massive quantities of sand Prunty Construction required. Nearly 50 years later it is probably over the million tons mark. 

Another speaker was Stanley Lytle, one time deputy to Sam Morrow in the Department of Agriculture in Fermanagh, who spoke of the great need there was then, for land drainage in the county. He spoke eloquently of the innovator that Joe Pat was, and how he had been an inspiration to him in his role as agriculture advisor. 

Without the efforts of Joe Pat, advances in land drainage in Fermanagh would have been much slower, he said. 

The book retails at £20 and can be purchased in McBrien’s Newsagents, Lisnaskea, Eason’s, Enniskillen, and in The Four Masters Bookshop, Donegal town, as well as many other local outlets. 

After the launch in the Kilmore Hotel, Cavan, tonight, Saturday, it will be available in Eason’s Cavan and Monaghan town as well as the Crannog Bookshop, Cavan, and Matthews Newsagents, Monaghan Shopping Centre. It can also be bought at the offices of Prunty Engineering, Lettergreen, Newtownbutler.