Patch Connolly: Much loved Warrenpoint actor passes away
Respected Warrenpoint actor and playwright, Patch Connolly, has died, his family has announced.
Formerly of Thomas Street, a funeral notice said Patch passed away “peacefully at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home” on July 1.
Patch’s early work included TV roles in shows like Play for Today (1981), Dramarama (1989), and Mr. Majeika (1990).
He completed a world tour of The Tempest for the Oxford Stage Company and was working at the Liverpool Playhouse on Once a Catholic when he was asked to audition for the role of Snowy White in the BBC series, Eldorado.
The series was infamously cancelled after a year at great cost to the BBC, but Patch had spoken fondly of his time on the Spanish-based soap.
"I personally loved working in the warmth of the sun, visiting places of interest on my day off such as The Alhambra Palace in Granada and delights of Seville. My family joined me and worked as extras in many of the episodes, enjoying a strangely extended holiday, mixing with the other actors and their families,” he told the Eldorado Revisited website.
“In 11 months I had learnt so much about the technique of television, what goes on behind the camera, the editing, scripting etc, but most of all about actors themselves, their egos, temperaments, ambitions and lifestyles."
Following his departure from Eldorado Patch was soon back on stage in The Cherry Orchard and was on the big screen in cult comedy Shaun of the Dead.
Patch also wrote a number of plays, many of which focused on life closer to home including Our Ma, which was written about the Armagh Rail Disaster of 1889; The Fair Day and The Square.
His son, Dylan, posted on Patch’s Facebook page: “Patch took his last bow on Tuesday morning and made a quick exit stage left.....
"He has been blessed to be surrounded by his family and his loving wife for the past few years and was laughing and tucking into liquorice all sorts whenever he could.
"His sudden departure was ironically without any drama, unlike his charmed life. His service is available online and we have already been inundated with a thousand stories of how he made people laugh and love life.”
Dylan added that, along with his sister Danielle, his family “are grateful to everyone who has supported Patch in his career and his plays.....or have just given him a sofa to sleep on”.
The funeral notice said that Patch was the “beloved husband of Constance, loving father of Dylan and Danielle, father-in-law of Monica and James, cherished grandfather of Abigail, Lily, Pippa and Molly and great grandfather of Rohan, beloved son of the late Danny and Lily and much-loved brother of Brian (Mary) and the late Sean (Rosemary) and Eileen (Gerry).”
Paddy’s remains will repose at McAnulty’s Funeral Home, Warrenpoint on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm – 5pm on both days. A cremation service will take place in Dardistown Crematorium, Dublin on Monday, July 7 at 2.30pm and can be viewed live on webcam.
The notice added that his passing is "deeply regretted and sadly missed by his loving family, extended family circle and friends. Donations in lieu of flowers please to Alzheimer’s Society c/o Donation Box at Funeral Home or directly to alzheimers.org.uk.”