Limerick GAA cub sets up trust for late much-loved member 

THE untimely and tragic death of West  Limerick man and stalwart Gael Pat O’Brien in February left the close-knit community of Feohanagh Castlemahon reeling and left the GAA family there, of which he was a central part, totally devastated.

But, as his friends within the GAA noted this week: “This pales into insignificance when compared to the inconsolable grief experienced by his wife Caroline, his children  Keelin and Clara, his father Mike, brothers and sisters.”

Now, in solidarity with Pat’s grieving family, the Feohanagh Castlemahon GAA Club has come together to give practical support to the family Pat loved. They have established the Pat O’Brien Trust, to help ensure financial security for the education of his beloved daughters” who are aged 14 and 12.  

“Pat will be remembered for many things but most of all he will be remembered as someone who couldn’t say no,” the club’s officers said in an open letter which they made public this week. “If his club, parish, county, or a stranger needed help Pat would be the first to put up his hand. He was that sort of person, honest, hard working and most comfortable when helping others. He was a model volunteer who never looked for credit. If there was a job to be done Pat would just go and do it.

“He had massive pride in our club and took it upon himself to play a key role as chairman, in the preparation of teams, and even more so in the facilities at the club. He just hoovered up work and it was a great tribute to him that he had the knack of getting people to follow his leadership.”

Pat was very proud of his daughters, the letter continues, celebrated all their achievements and  ‘would have done all in his power to ensure they had every chance to pursue their choice of pathway in education’ the officers say.

The Pat O’Brien Trust is intended to help in that. Rest assured that every donation to the following bank account will be deeply appreciated,” they say.

The letter is signed by the club’s secretary, assistant secretary and two treasurers and by Noel Corbett who is chairman of the Trust Fund.

Donations can be made to Pat O’Brien Trust Fund, IBAN number  IE37 BOFI 9043 7637 8068 33 and BIC number BOFIIE2D