Mr. Patrick Joseph Wallace (Paddy)

Editorial Department • Published 22 Jul 2010 16:00

The untimely, but peaceful death took place, on July 1, at the age of only 58, of Patrick Wallace, formerly of 10 Fortlea, Derrylin, and of Castleteehan, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, in the Erne Hospital, Enniskillen.

Patrick was the eldest son of the late Patrick and Rose Wallace, his mother only passing away, exactly three weeks to the day, before her son.

Patrick, as described by Fr. Boylan, who conducted the funeral mass, in St. Mary's Church, Teemore, on Saturday July 3, was a 'colourful character', and definitely his own man, in every way, and not a man to be turned easily.

Patrick was born in the old City Hospital, Belfast, on March 19, 1952, and received his early education, firstly in Holy Cross Boys' School, and then later attended St. Gabriel's Secondary School, both in Ardoyne.

He left school in 1968 and took up a position in the Ballysillan Arms public house, on the Crumlin Road, to start his apprenticeship as a barman. He gave up that position in 1969 to work in a meat plant in Duncrue Street, working as a master butcher and boner. Then, with the onset of the troubles, his family lost their home in Belfast and moved to Fermanagh, to stay, firstly, with his uncle Johnny in Teemore, and then obtaining a house in Derrylin, which became their family home until the present day.

Patrick then took a job in Clones Meat Packers for just over a year, then moving on to work in the Cotton Factory in Lisnaskea, where he worked for two more years. But Patrick missed the city life, and after spending another year in Tunney's Meats in Enniskillen, moved to work in the meat business in Dublin.

Patrick had a pleasant and likeable nature and made friends very easily, but had itchy feet, and after making new friends from Germany, decided to seek out a new life in their country, moving in 1979, to live in Freiberg.

During his early days there, Patrick became fluent in German, learning to speak, read and write the language within a short period of time, which always helped him with his search for work.

Patrick was never a man to sit around doing nothing, and travelled through Germany looking for, and obtaining work wherever he went. He took jobs as a gardener, postman and a translator, with his last position being a studio technician with a television station in Hanover.

During his time in Germany, he met and married his wife, Ruth Zaschke, later to give birth to Patrick's only child, his daughter Natalia (20), who was born in Castlerea, Roscommon, shortly after they moved back to Ireland in 1990.

Outside of his family, he had two great passions, music and art, and over the next few years Patrick decided to expand his horizons by enrolling in 2000 into Galway University to study Art and Design, obtaining his degree three years later with honours and later teaching in the subject.

But late in 2009, Patrick found his health beginning to deteriorate. Over the coming months he was admitted to hospital both in Roscommon and then to Galway University Hospital, where his health began to fail even more. Patrick was discharged from Galway in March and came back to his family home in Fermanagh to recuperate, with his mother and brothers.

Over the next couple of months, Patrick received many visitors and well wishers, although poorly, always keeping his bright side out. But his health began to fail rapidly recently, and with the passing of his mother on June 10, it took its toll on him and he was admitted to the Erne Hospital on Friday June 25. Unfortunately Patrick's condition worsened over the week and he passed away, very peacefully, on the next Thursday morning, July 1, 2010, with family members around his bed.

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses of the Erne Hospital for the attention and compassion they showed to Patrick over his time in their care. Also to Dr. Porteous, Lisnaskea, and the district nurses who attended to him in his home. They would also like to thank everyone who called to their home. A mass will be offered up for their intentions.

Patrick's month's memory mass will take place on Saturday, July 31 in St. Mary's Church, Teemore, at 7.30pm.

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This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 22 Jul 10

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