ANYBODY who has had connections with the Fermanagh mumming world will mourn the recent passing of 88-year-old Patrick Murphy of Clonliff, Macken.

A quiet, unassuming retired farmer, Patrick came into his own when it came to fashioning the iconic straw masks and accompanying straw rigouts for which Fermanagh’s mummers are known worldwide.

With well-worn hands from years of toiling the land that were often described “as big as shovels”, Patrick loved nothing better than transferring his knowledge of plaiting straw to youngsters and adults alike who enrolled for strawcraft workshops organised by the Mummers Foundation at the Aughakillymaude Mummers Centre.

Often seen quietly plaiting straw in some corner of public heritage events, Patrick drew people to him by his gentle demeanour and willingness to engage in conversations on the art of strawcraft.

According to his family, practitioners of strawcraft, anthropology students, academics and folklorists from renowned museums all somehow found their way to his green barn where, against a backdrop carefully cleaned straw, Patrick would in his strong West Fermanagh dialect impart traditional skills of weaving and plaiting.

“Such was the reverence for this undervalued aspect of Fermanagh’s living heritage, dad featured in the publication, ‘Traditional Crafts of Ireland’,” his family recalled.

“In more recent times, he took on commissions such as replicating traditional straw masks for drama and film productions and those which now feature on the labels of recently launched new brands of whiskey.

“He was himself formerly a Kinawley mummer and featured prominently on the Mummers Foundation’s acclaimed film documentary, ‘Mummers Masks and Mischief’, and was recently filmed working at straw in his barn on TG4 news which addressed the very real risk of traditional strawcraft dying out.”

Nothing pleased Patrick more than spending this time of year in a field of oats with old friend and neighbour, Francie Doherty, scything away at oats and then proceeding to its cleaning and lashing to leave the mummers with a fresh supply of golden oaten straw for over the festive period.

“He was particularly renowned for crafting a Fermanagh mummers hat which he claimed had a woven straw tate emanating from the top of the mask, which then looped down at the rear beyond the main body of the mask itself, and with a smile he referred to as ‘The Devil’s Tail’,” recalled Jim Ledwith, who worked with Patrick under the Mummers Foundation.

Patrick was instrumental in reviving the ancient art of mumming in Fermanagh back in the 1990s and played a pivotal role in spreading the tradition throughout Ireland and further afield.

It is his family’s wish that Patrick’s talent in the art of strawcraft will be fondly remembered whenever Captain Mummer stands up to recite his lines to future generations to come.

He is deeply missed by his wife of almost 60 years, Rhoda; sons Cathal (Marguerite), Barry, (Imelda), Padraic, (Colette); daughters Geraldine, Rhoda (Niall); sister Bridget; brother-in-law, Tom; and all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Patrick’s Funeral Mass was held on August 11 at St. Naile’s Church, Kinawley, followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery.