Gleneely Honours Paddy Lafferty While Supporting Local Dementia Care

The memory of much-loved local man Paddy Lafferty continues to be honoured through the annual Paddy Lafferty Memorial Pool Competition, which once again raised an impressive sum for a worthy local cause.

This year’s tournament, held before Christmas in The Orchard Bar, Gleneely, raised €2,120, with all proceeds going to the Ard Aoibhinn Dementia Unit in Carndonagh Hospital. Paddy’s wife, Mary Rose Lafferty, recently presented staff from the unit in Carndonagh with a cheque on behalf of the Lafferty family, organisers, and the Gleneely community.

A massive word of thanks has been extended to everyone who took part, helped organise the event, or contributed in any way to raising such a fantastic amount for a service that supports so many families across the area.

The annual pool competition held in Gleneely was first established in 2013 as a tribute to Paddy, a native of Moneydarragh who passed away in 2011. Paddy was a keen and talented pool player, and the game was one of his great loves.

Over the years, the tournament has raised substantial funds for a wide range of good causes. During a prolonged period of ill health, Paddy battled amyloidosis and cancer and also suffered a stroke. The hospitals and services that cared for him — including the Royal Free Hospital, Letterkenny University Hospital, Carn Hospital, and the Donegal Hospice — have all benefited from the generosity generated by the memorial competition.

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More than just a sporting event, the annual Gleneely tournament continues to keep alive the memory of a much-loved cue man, while bringing the community together and supporting vital health services — something that would undoubtedly have meant a great deal to Paddy himself.