Treasured Cappamore Show’s treasurer’s 40 years celebrated
Man of the moment Pat Fogarty with his wife Mary, daughters Elaine, �ine, Maria and son Michael. Picture: Josephine Blackwell
THE CIA aren’t a patch on Cappamore Show’s committee when it comes to keeping secrets.
With military precision, a surprise party was organised for Pat Fogarty without any of the 200 guests letting the cat out of the bag.
The Cappamore man was already on the committee when he was elected treasurer in 1972. He stood down as treasurer this year but is as involved as ever in Cappamore Show. As it was Pat’s birthday a meal was organised to celebrate it in Hayes’ with his wife Mary and Nora and John Meehan.
To throw him off the scent Marie Hayes, chairperson; PJ Blackwell, treasurer; Jimmy McCarthy, president and Paddy Ryan “Luke” were in the restaurant. Marie made a presentation to Pat and he thought that was the surprise.
Then Anna Hayes told him there was a phone call from a son in law. “I didn’t click at all. It never registered with me why he didn’t ring the mobile. She said to take it in the function room and I got the shock of my life!
“I got bloods taken the other week, they were fine but my blood pressure would be higher on the night! There was a massive crowd,” said Pat, who thanked everybody who organised the event and came along.
“They put the world of work in to it. The presentation by Denis Ryan had photographs that I had never even seen myself,” said Pat. The size of the crowd was testament to the high esteem Pat is held in in Cappamore said Paddy “Luke”. As well as the Cappamore Show he is involved in the CDA, GAA club, day-care centre, Ballinure graveyard and more.
“Across the board he is a mighty community man. It was a special occasion. In his first show as treasurer in 1973 the receipts were £2,789 and expenses £2,600. In 2011, the receipts were €96,679 and expenses €92,871. That shows the degree the show has developed under Pat’s tenure,” said Paddy “Luke”, who also paid tribute to Pat’s family.
Marie Hayes presented an engraved memento and framed cert. While Cllr Noel Gleeson summed up the feelings of all when he said Pat is a “thorough gentleman”.
See page 18 for more pictures
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Limerick
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: North west
