Anton McNulty
Pat Reilly
THE whole of Erris was plunged into sadness on Sunday when word came through that its oldest citizen and ‘living legend’, Pat ‘Rua’ Reilly, had died just five days short of his 101st birthday.
The news of Pat’s death in Belmullet hospital on Sunday was met with sadness by his family and friends, who this time last year had gathered in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel to celebrate his hundredth birthday.
Pat Rua from Glenlara, Belmullet was born on the south island of Inishkea in 1907 and was the last living survivor of the Inishkea fishing tragedy in 1927, when ten young men drowned, ultimately leading to the abandonment of the islands in the 1930s. A fisherman all his life, he fished all along the west coast and was known by everyone in the fishing communities along the coast.
In 1970, he had another brush with death on the sea when, on June 9, Pat and the crew of the ‘Sister Thames’ developed engine trouble eight miles south of Rathlin O’Beine lighthouse. They dropped anchor but were surrounded by a blanket fog which lasted for five days. Initially their families were not worried but two days later the alarm was raised. On the fourth day the fog finally lifted and they were located eight miles off Dromore-West in Sligo. They had gone without water for a whole day and they had to put butter on their lips to stop them from cracking.
Paying tribute to Pat Rua, fellow fisherman Henry Gaughan told The Mayo News that fishing was in Pat’s blood and he’ll be sadly missed by all in the fishing community. He explained that he was 17 years old when he first fished with Pat and he was a great person to learn from.
“He was a magnificent person who will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him. He had a tough life but fishing was his life and it is all he did for his working life. He was a very good fisherman and must have been still fishing when he was 70. It was in his blood. Pat was a good age but his death is still a shock and he will be a big loss,” he said.
Local councillor, Tim Quinn, said he knew Pat for over 45 years and described him as a ‘legend’ who would be sadly missed by everyone in the community. He said that Pat had recorded a lot of the history of the Inishkea islands and was a well-known figure.
“He was a real legend who was known and respected by everyone. He was a genuine man involved in fishing all his life and was a household name in the area. I was lucky to know him for 45 years and I had great admiration for him and he will be missed by the community,” he said.
Fr Kevin Hegarty, a priest in the parish of Shanahee, said he knew Pat very well and also described him as a living legend who would be missed by all who knew him.
“I knew him very well and could only describe him as a living legend. He was the last survivor of the Inishkea disaster and also escaped death in 1970 when he was almost lost at sea. He was a legendary figure amongst fishermen.”
Pat Rua’s remains were brought to the Church of Our Lady of Dolours, Shanahee last night (Monday) and his funeral Mass will take place today at 12 noon, with his burial to take place afterwards in Emly Beg Cemetery. Pat was predeceased by his wife Mary and son John Joe and is survived by his four daughters and seven sons, brother Willie, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
