Kilkenny Obituary: Paddy Grant, Smithstown, Mullinavat

The death occurred at his residence of Paddy Grant, Smithstown, Mullinavat on May 4.

Paddy was born in Knockmoylan on October 31, 1931 to parents Richard and Mary (née Darmody) Grant, Knockmoylan. The Grant family had been associated with that townsland for generations; they were farmers who took a keen interest in the life of the area. His mother Mary Darmody was from Crowbally, another family of long association and standing in the area.

Paddy lived a very long and active life. Growing up in a farming family, he learned the old traits of farming life, of the interaction of the community of people that lived there, the different areas of work that one had to do from milking cows to look after animals, ploughing, sowing, reaping and keeping the cogs of machinery in working order.

Workshop
Paddy Grant went to Castlegannon’s two teacher school. After that he was like all young lads on their own, learning from others.

Seeing tractors take over he learned about them and excelled; Paddy’s 1945 Fordson Tractor took him to many vintage events in the area and in the South-East.

He learned to repair machinery and make parts in his extensive workshop. He learned to do electrical work and was a great man about water pumps.

Together with his late wife Maura - they were married in 1964 - the couple enjoyed a great long life together. They travelled widely around Ireland and, with their son Richard, saw most of Ireland with their camper trailer. Paddy loved areas like Killarney, Mayo, in particular Knock and its shrine, West Cork, the Midlands and Donegal.

He trained as a butcher and was employed by Clover Meats, Ferrybank for 27 years until its closure in the early 1980s. He travelled there in all weathers with his colleagues from Mullinavat and was highly thought of by staff and management. Afterwards he turned his attention to work with agricultural contractors and also took up a position with the CIE school bus service for a number of years and later for private hire companies.

With Maura, a member of the Ryan family of Lismatigue, the couple danced in Knocktopher for over 30 years. They were familiar to the many people who attended Billy Carroll’s dancing lounge. Paddy loved music and listening to local radio. Maura’s passing in September 2021 left a great void in Paddy’s life.

Religion was an important part of Paddy’s life. Fr Liam Barron, the celebrant of the Requiem Mass, cited this in a beautiful tribute to Paddy. He recalled him at all of the church ceremonies during the year and at the weekly mass. He also recalled Paddy’s long life and of his devotion to his wife Maura and to his son Richard.

Vintage club
Paddy was a member of the Mullinavat Rod Iron Vintage Club and of the Mullinavat Active Retirement Association.
The local vintage club paid a great tribute to Paddy when they provided a guard of honour when his remains arrived in Mullinavat from Donnacha Doyle’s funeral home.

Paddy’s love for Kilkenny hurling was great. He collected souvenirs from the matches he attended, with his workshop, up to the day of his passing, festooned with all of the memorabilia of great Kilkenny teams.

Paddy leaves a rich body of work with his workshop, his farm and his tractors. In communicating with many, he enriched their lives and passed on valuable traits to them.

His likes and his vast interests will be a hard act to follow. He was a pupil of the old school, of old and trusted farming methods that stood him in good stead throughout his long and healthy life.

Paddy’s funeral and burial were attended by a large gathering from the sporting, business, farming and political worlds and the many different social clubs that Paddy was involved in.
Among those in attendance were John McGuinness TD, John Paul Phelan TD, Cllr Joe Malone, Mayor of Kilkenny City and a native of Rosbercon, together with councillors Fidelis Doherty, Pat Dunphy, Tomas Breathnach, Andrew McGuinness and Pat Fitzpatrick.

Celebrant of the Mass was Fr Liam Barron, PP, Mullinavat. Hymns and sacred music were provided by Mary Crosbie from Bunclody and included one of Paddy’s favourite songs, Our Lady of Knock.
The readings were by Matthew Murphy (godson) and Noreen Reynolds. Prayers of the Faithful were read by Richard Walsh, Michael Murphy, Maria Heylin and Ann O’Carroll. Gifts were presented by Eimear Grant, Cormac Reynolds, Jimmy Grant, Sinead Grant, Aoibhe Keane, Dearbhla Keane and Eoin Grant. The narrator was Richard Grant, Knockmoylan.

Paddy was predeceased by his wife Maura and his sisters Anastasia Kinsella, Knockhouse and Kathleen (Kitty) Roche, Skeard. He is survived by his son Richard (Peace Commissioner), Smithstown; brother Jimmy Grant and his wife Mary in Knockmoylan; Tommy, Matthew and Nicholas Murphy from Lismatigue.
Ar dheis Dí ar a anam
- SM