Pat O'Hare

Sinn Féin activist and Belfast community stalwart Pat O'Hare died suddenly on 3 February 2005 in London, where he had travelled to see his beloved Arsenal play Manchester United. In his early 50s, Pat's sudden death was not just a shock to his family but to his many friends in the republican family and in the Westrock/Whiterock area, where he worked so hard on behalf of his community.

Buried in Milltown Cemetery in a grave close to that of Volunteer Tom Williams, Pat's funeral attracted hundreds of mourners, an indication of the esteem in which he was held. Below is the oration delivered at Pat's graveside by Sinn Féin Councillor Marie Cush, who was a close friend.

"We are standing here united in our grief at the passing of a dear man, Pat O'Hare.

Pat's sudden and untimely death has robbed each and every one of us here of a man who meant so much to so many people in so many different ways.

He was a devoted son of Rose and the late Patrick, loving brother of Seán, Peter, Margaret, Eileen and the late Martin and Brendan, and uncle to his many nieces and nephews.

Pat was also a true and loyal friend, a thoughtful neighbour, a hard working community activist and a dedicated and committed comrade.

Pat grew up in Divismore Park in Ballymurphy, and would speak with great humour of the happy and carefree times he enjoyed there, of the friendships he formed that lasted many years. It wasn't far from Divismore, in Britton's Parade in the Whiterock area, where Pat settled and set up home, but he would return often to Divismore to visit old friends and neighbours.

Neighbours in Britton's Parade speak of Pat with great respect and affection, a very private person who was always the first to offer support or assistance in times of need and congratulations in time of celebrations.

Pat strived to improve the quality of life for his neighbours and his community. He was a founding member of Whiterock and Westrock Residents Association and a member of their management committee right up to his death. He made time to attend meetings with statutory agencies on many issues and would call into the office every day to see if anything needed to be done or if the staff needed help.

With no youth facilities in the Whiterock area, one project Pat felt passionate about was a play park development. After many years of meetings, arguing the case for the need for the park and securing funding of almost half a million pounds, it is tragic that just months away from that dream becoming a reality, Pat will not be standing beside us when the work begins.

Pat was also a member of the Whiterock and Westrock Safety team and would walk the streets in all kinds of weather tackling the many issues of anti-social behaviour in a positive way, taking time to talk to young people and listening to their concerns. Pat didn't walk the streets because he had to, he did it because he wanted to.

The office of the residents' association hasn't stopped since the news of Pat's death reached the area. People have been calling into the office or phoning to offer their condolences.

Like many of us here, they will struggle hard to pick up the pieces. He was such a major part of that organisation and we shall miss him greatly.

Excelled

Pat excelled in everything he did but it was in his republican work that he really came into his own. A full time voluntary activist, Pat worked for many years in Sinn Féin's Foreign Affairs office. It was a hard job and one that took Pat away from home on many occasions. He never complained.

He was in charge of Sinn Féin's international information service and was distribution manager for the international bulletin, of which 10,000 copies went worldwide monthly.

Pat was responsible for dealing with the media aboard and also for meeting and forming links with solidarity groups in Europe, America and Canada. He went on diplomatic missions and met regularly with elected representatives in the countries he visited. He would also liaise with Irish Northern Aid.

Pat was a member of the Liam McParland Cumann for many years and a founding member of the greater Ballymurphy Martyrs Cumann. He was meticulous in carrying out the many aspects of constituency work.

He gave 110% to everything he worked on and expected no less from the people who worked with him. It wasn't unusual for Pat to come home from Europe or America and a few hours later to be on the streets selling An Phoblacht.

He worked tirelessly in every election campaign, from registration to canvassing, and on election day would have in place a team and timetable that would run like clockwork.

It has been difficult to try and condense the life of a man who generously gave so much of his time and energy.

We shall all miss him greatly as a comrade and a friend. We will miss his humour, his short but so funny jokes and the witty remarks that would roll off his tongue and leave us in fits of laughter.

People have made many lovely comments about Pat, but the one that stands out for me is: 'You could walk to the end of the Earth and not meet one person who didn't like Pat O'Hare.'

That is a small measure of the esteem in which Pat was held.

We have all been privileged that at some stage in our lives and in some way, large or small, Pat was a part of it and it is on these memories that we shall draw strength in the hard times ahead.

On behalf of the entire Republican Movement, we offer our sincere condolences to the O'Hare family."

I measc laochra na nGael a raibh sé