Tubbercurry lost a true legend in 2023

It’s no wonder Padraic Neary prided himself on the importance of attention to detail. As a tool-maker and an engineer, his training centred on precision. There was no room for error and it commanded meticulous research, rational thinking and forensic preparation. It was the ideal ‘training ground’ that allowed him to develop and expand the abundance of talents and abilities he possessed in articulating his forward-thinking views on a whole range of topics. Everything he undertook had to be as close to perfection as possible and stand up to robust scrutiny.

There were many strings to Padraic’s bow. An entrepreneur, a property developer, an historian, a poet, an actor, a playwright and a passionate community activist is, by any stretch of the imagination, an impressive and unique portfolio of talents which he carried out with creativity, personality, wit and balance.

He was also opinionated - in the best sense of the word. The subjects he wrote and spoke about were diverse. They ranged from local history and world politics to the demise of labour as a result of technology and the imbalance and over-production of the world's food stocks. There were a plethora of other subjects that engaged his mind too – far too numerous to mention here.

Regardless of the subject matter he always made compounding and balanced observations and he consistently ‘set out his stall’ with articles that were direct, concise and logical. No frills – just facts and solutions. I often thought he would have made an exceptional politician but in hindsight perhaps not because ‘shooting from the hip’ isn’t something that’s widely encouraged within the political sphere. Padraic would never have been able to adjust to the party whip philosophy either!

It’s almost ten years ago that I recall getting an email from Padraic where he predicted that technology would, in most instances, replace the jobs of humans. He boldly predicted that the era of a four-day working week was nigh. I thought he had lost the plot. Surely such a thing could never happen. History has proven him correct.

About five years ago, he did a radio interview with me where he forecasted that the computer world would become so advanced that “within a couple of years technology would perform almost any task undertaken by humans”. Again, I thought, completely OTT! Listeners agreed and felt I had given him far too much airtime. Enter artificial intelligence – two words that in the last six months have dominated the headlines. Padraic got that right too!

He didn’t like to argue but he loved to debate. Regardless of his passion on a specific topic he had the foresight and capacity to listen to the counter-argument and respect it for what it was. After the debate concluded there were never any hard feelings or grudges held. His emails could arrive at any hour of the day or night – the sign of an active brain that was forever in overdrive. I often wondered if, or when, he ever slept!

It’s hard to believe that Padraic only began writing and articulating his views in his mid-fifties. I assume he was far too consumed in his everyday life to have time to dedicate to an art that he was extraordinarily good at. He was immensely proud when his letters were printed in the national/local press or read out on local radio. Despite his amazing knowledge on so many topics, he remained a very level-headed individual who never forgot his roots that were cultivated along the banks of the river Moy in the village of Banada in County Sligo. He was passionate about rural Ireland, the Irish language and the importance of preserving our arts and culture.

He loved sport and was a great supporter of both club and inter-county football in Sligo. It’s ironic that the Sligo colours are black and white because Padraic didn’t do grey. It was always either black or white.

He wrote lyrical poetry and he even found time to write a number of award-winning plays. Padraic was, for many years, a leading light in the Phoenix Players, Tubbercurry who in recent years have lamented the loss of wonderful people including Sean Johnston, Peter Davey and Ursula Brennan. Little did we think another shining light would be joining them this soon.

He was heavily involved in the restoration of St Brigid’s Hall where he spent many nights during his lifetime. He also found time to help with the revival of the Old Fair Day and it was fitting that just months after his passing the Old Fair Committee this year inaugurated the Padriac Neary Memorial treasure hunt – in memory of a local treasure.

He volunteered with the Irish Blood Transfusion Board and no clinic ever took place in Tubbercurry without ample posters on display in shop windows around the town and emails to the local press – always followed up by a message of appreciation afterwards.

This year Tubbercurry lost a legend. There was a genuine sense of loss when news filtered through of his untimely passing. On the eve of his death, he attended the three-act drama festival in St Brigid’s Hall – living out one of his passions in life to the very end. He would have wanted that.

I genuinely miss his emails. The last one he sent to me was just two days before he died where he was analysing the war in Ukraine and putting forward suggestions on how the conflict could be resolved. When I look through the hundreds of emails he sent to me over the years I realise just how unique and knowledgeable a man he really was.

Padraic’s passing will be felt most by his wife Loretta, his daughter Marian and sons Anthony and Philip. The wider community won’t forget him either and we will always remember him as a man who wore his colours on his sleeve, said what he believed and gave his all to his local community. There are very few who stand head and shoulders above others but Padraic was one of those who did.

For the record, I did not use artificial intelligence to assist me in writing this appreciation – l took a leaf out of Padraic’s book and I wrote it from the heart!

Rest easy, Padraic, and thanks for the memories.