*Pictured at the Grove bar and restaurant at the launch of the Paddy Hassett memorial table quiz in aid of Milford Care Centre were Standing L to R: Daire O’ Connor, Ronan O’ Connor, Jack Murphy (Grove Bar). Michael O’ Connor and James Corbett. Seated (L to R); Joe Hallinan, Ava Corbett, Matthew Corbett and Dervala Corbett.
In January it was with heavy heart that all who knew Paddy Hassett MVB, MRCVS heard of his sad passing.
By Michael O’Connor
A servant of the community for decades in his day trade as a renowned veterinary surgeon known throughout the county and beyond for his lifetime of services to farmers, day and night.
Paddy was family man, a sportsman with honours at Fitzgibbon Cup level with UCD and part of the famous St Joseph’s title winning teams at minor and senior level in 1958 and 1959 but much more than that to everyone who knew him.
He loved poetry especially, Yeats, Kavanagh and Heaney. He adored hunting and the point to point circuit and was at happiest celebrating the end of a great hunt or a successful point to point in the depths of winter and early spring.
For over 40 years he never missed a hunt especially in Norrie Henchy’s, Tubber or Barefield. He ensured his family grew up engrossed in education and to be the best one can with the talents inherited from Paddy and his late beloved wife Eileen.
One of his lasting enduring legacies was a near forty-year involvement with the Spancil Hill fair and its organisation. When there was a need for a renewal of the 400-year-old plus event in the 1980’s there was no surprise that up stepped the vet from Moyriesk to lead the rebirth of the fair and increased its popularity to a new level over the past three decades. Paddy was the father figure in latter years whose bank of work, contacts and experience proved invaluable to new committee members.
As a consequence, the Spancil Hill fair committee have decided to honour the memory of their colleague and also in conjunction with the Hassett family raise funds for the superb work carried out by Milford Care Centre.
It was decided to hold a table Quiz on Friday 23rd May commencing at 9pm in the Grove Bar and Restaurant, Roslevan. It is planned to be a celebration of the life of Paddy who gave so much to the community and everyone is welcome to attend and support the continued great work being carried out by Milford Care Centre.
For further details to donate a prize plus book a table feel free to contact 0879840184.
