Remembering a special man - my father, Paddy Harte

The Harte family recently had a great day in Raphoe when a bench was unveiled in memory of my father, Paddy Harte, in Oakfield Park.

The beautiful new bench was organised by Gerry Robinson, who spoke fondly of my Dad and told how they used to meet each other in the same park from time to time.

As Gerry addressed the event, I started thinking of some of my own smaller memories of my father.

I remembered going to the cattle mart in Strabane with him as a child, and one day, sneaking away from him. I ended up falling down the concrete steps in the hall and was quickly surrounded by some of the men who had seen the accident.

I was afraid my dad would arrive and give me an earful. When he did arrive, to my surprise, he grabbed me and held me tight and asked how I was, not giving out, just concerned that I was okay. That was him, and to this day I always carry the sense of security he gave me.  

He was a man with a passion for people and his life reflected that.  A story he loved to tell was on meeting the famous singer Joseph Locke, a Derryman, when he was in Dublin to promote his latest release.

When my father introduced himself as a TD from Donegal, Mr Locke said he’d ever heard of him. However, my father, quick as a flash, said “But you know my mother Mary Boyle from Derry”.

Gerry Robinson on the new memorial bench with Paddy's wife, Rosaleen Harte. Picture: Brian McDaid

Joe’s eyes lit up and he said in as many words how Mary was a friend and neighbour in Derry growing up and how proud he was to meet her son in Dublin. He had no hesitation in accompanying my dad into Leinster House on that day. It was a proud day for my father, and he actually recalled it on his deathbed in Letterkenny. 

He had wisdom that I didn’t possess and this came with age and experience. He saw the bigger picture when others saw only faults, a great trait if you possess it and he had it in abundance for years on end.

I was amazed at his wake when endless amounts of people came up to me and recalled meeting him and how he got things done for them when he was a TD or a councillor. These were people from all over the country.

It was an amazing tribute to someone who had a great connection with communities throughout the land.

It was great to see people remember him with such fondness and I hope he will be in their thoughts for many years to come. 

What is his legacy? A life dedicated to helping others less fortunate who found themselves on the wrong side of the track.. He attempted to right the wrongs he saw in society, sometimes he was successful sometimes not, but he gave it his all. 

I’m glad that we had the celebration of his life with the unveiling of a bench in such a lovely setting.

It was a fitting tribute to a life well led and his memory will live on in his children and grandchildren for many years.

Goodbye dad....we’ll meet again some time.

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The late Paddy Harte, Raphoe