Respected Kilkenny businessman passes away

Paddy Prendergast, a well-known Dunnamaggin man, passed away on Friday, November 22. Although his health had been in decline for several years, his unexpected passing came as a great shock to his family, relatives and friends.

With strong ties to Ballyhale through his father, the late Joe Prendergast, Paddy started his tyre business on the Main Street in Ballyhale in the early 1980s, when he returned from his years away working in London.

The support from the people of Ballyhale and surrounding areas helped the business to thrive, as it continues to do so today under the ownership of Paddy’s son Patrick.

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Many of those customers, past and present, came to pay their respects to Paddy at the reposing of his remains at Johnston’s Funeral Home, on the Sunday evening prior to his funeral.

Close to a thousand people signed the Book of Condolence, with those paying their respects coming from far and wide. His former school friends, Ned Norris and Willie Maloney were amongst those in attendance. With Paddy, they were among the first students to enrol at what is now Scoil Aireagail in Ballyhale in 1959; Paddy’s family were greatly touched by hearing them recall their schooldays together.

Prominent figures from the GAA and horseracing communities also joined Paddy’s family and friends, as they paid their condolences to a man who was a keen supporter of the Ballyhale Shamrocks and Kilkenny hurling teams, and a regular attendee of race meetings at Gowran, Listowel, Galway and of course, Cheltenham. His dapper figure was a familiar sight to many race goers over the years.

Paddy was also a highly visible presence in his local community. He could often be seen busily tending his garden, or out and about on his bicycle. With his fondness for sharing a story, he greatly enjoyed stopping to chat with his neighbours.

Numerous tributes to Paddy describe him as a gentleman. His wife Josephine, children Mary, Bernadette, Fiona, Patrick and Lisa, together with his grandchildren, are consoled in their time of grief by the kind and thoughtful recollections that have been shared with them.

Paddy is predeceased by his beloved sister Queenie, and survived by his siblings Tommy, Brigid, Seanie, Carmel and Frank, and Paddy’s family are grateful to them and their respective families for their support in recent days.

The family are grateful too for the help that Paddy received from the medical professionals who attended to him in his final hours, to the HSE homecare team, to Father Fergus Farrell and to Shane Johnston of Johnston’s Funeral Home for their support and assistance at this sad time.