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It was with deep shock and profound sadness that the people of Emyvale and surrounding areas learned the sad news of the death of the late Patsy (PJ) McCluskey, Main Street, Emyvale, which occurred during the early hours of Saturday 1st November last, All Saints Day. Patsy had been in failing health for some time previously, but made a truly remarkable recovery, only to experience a sudden relapse and finally pass away peacefully after a short spell in the loving care of the nursing staff of Monaghan General Hospital.
Patsy was probably one of the most popular and most loving personalities of Emyvale village, as well as being one of its most senior citizens, a ‘title’ he humorously shared with his life long friend, Pat Farmer. Since his retirement some twenty years ago he was a regular feature in the precincts of the village, always to be seen doing his daily routine of going to the local Post Office, visiting the Credit Union Office and doing his daily walk, which he never missed – his favourite ‘walk’ being to ‘McGee’s Corner’ just south of the village, when he was invariably joined by Monica McKernan’s little dog ‘Spike’ and they became great companions.
Patsy received his early education in Edenmore NS and at St. Macartan’s Seminary, as it was then called, before going to work in the ‘Supply Stores’ of his uncle, Charles McCluskey, just across the street from his home. He spent many years there and became well known and popular with the large customer clientele from the Emyvale hinterland, who did their shopping there in the days before ‘Shopping Centres’ and greater transport facilities. Indeed, many mourners at his funeral recalled the days when they were served by Patsy in ‘McCluskey’s shop’ in Emyvale, right through from the pre-war days of the ’thirties, then the lean years of WW2, and right into the ’fifties.
Around 1953 he joined the Hoover Organisation and was a salesman for that firm for the next two years, following which he joined the Beecham Company, and was their North-West representative for a short period before being promoted Area Manager for the entire northern half of the Republic. He held this appointment until his retirement in 1986, after having served the Company for some thirty years.
Primarily a family man, devoting his life and affection to his first wife Maisie (who pre-deceased him in 1966), son and two elder daughters, and later to his second wife Nancy, and four younger daughters, he was also a very religious person, having great devotion to Our Lady, never once missing his daily rosary. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbanus.
His great ‘charity’ in life was the poor of his own locality and he was a founder member of the Donagh Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the late ’sixties, and he remained a dedicated member of the Society right up until his final illness.
The late Patsy McCluskey R.I.P.
