Joe Pat Prunty: Tributes from across Ireland for Fermanagh man

As the founder of the eponymous pitches, Joe Pat lived his whole life appreciating even the smallest things, with even some of the largest things – the meticulously prepared football pitches bearing his handiwork – just part of a life lived well by the popular character.

However, it was the small things in life that Joe Pat would say made him happy, with going to church and spending time with his family amongst his favourite uses of precious time.

But wherever Joe Pat roamed, he was never too far from a Prunty Pitch, with the tireless founder of that company making sure that, whether the work was carried out on a small training field or a county ground, the same care and pride would be put into the work.

Born in 1932 in Rosslea, Joe Pat was immersed in the GAA and was part of an all-conquering Roslea Shamrocks team which won four County Senior Championships on the trot from 1955-58, while he was also part of the Fermanagh Junior All-Ireland winning team of 1959 that defeated Kerry in Croke Park.

He married his wife, Angela, in 1962 and they went on to have five children: John, Edel, Maria, Nora and Joseph.

His daughter, Maria, told The Impartial Reporter, that faith, family and pitches were the three most important things in her father’s life.

“His faith was incredibly important to him, and he was deeply involved in the church life in the Galloon Parish,” Maria said.

“He had such a simple faith, and this was evident in how he lived his daily life.”

Maria recalls that his favourite days were going to matches: “The smallest things, like going to Croke Park, having a picnic in the back of the jeep, or meeting neighbours down at Brewster Park for a chat, meant everything to him.

“After every match, he loved nothing better than walking the pitch to see how it had stood up to the game.

“He would say to me that was ‘the best day’ – in fact, every day was the best day for him.”

Maria describes her father as a man of “integrity, honesty and fairness”, and that can be seen in the way he worked with clubs and counties throughout Ireland on developing football pitches.

“He didn’t compromise on anything, and he had incredible attention to detail. Every pitch was equally important to daddy, whether it was the smallest club training pitch, through to the prestigious county grounds, and he took the same pride in all of them.

“He knew the efforts that communities would have put into raising money, and he wanted to deliver the best possible pitch.

“Sometimes, in the initial meetings with club committees, they would have said to him ‘We are only a small club’, but he would have encouraged them not to think small.

“This may have entailed postponing the project until an additional piece of land could be bought to extend the pitch.

“To him, every club was a champion club. I don’t think any committee ever regretted taking daddy’s advice.”

Joe Pat’s love for his work over the years never diminished, and he was still travelling 1,000 miles a week to various grounds to make sure they were still performing up until he was 80 years old.

Maria added: “As well as that, he would be checking pitches on the morning of big games to make sure everything was up to standard. He poured his heart and soul into the pitches.”

Around him he built a loyal workforce, and Maria wanted to pay a special tribute to Sean Montgomery, a stalwart of Prunty Pitches, who passed away just days after her father and was incredibly loyal to him.

Joe Pat died peacefully at Gortacharn Nursing Home at 88 years of age after a long illness, with advanced dementia. Maria wanted to thank the nursing home for the way they looked after her father.

“It is an exceptional nursing home, and they gave him great care and love right up to the end, and we are very grateful to all the staff,” she said.

Being so well known the length and breadth of Ireland saw condolences and prayers flooding in for Joe Pat, and they were a great comfort for his family, said Maria.

She added that the people who stood out on the side of the roads while his funeral passed by, adhering to Covid regulations, showed a lovely way of paying their respects to her father in such difficult times.

The memories the family have of their husband, father and grandfather will give them huge comfort in the days ahead, as will the many tributes being paid to Joe Pat who had huge success both on and off the football pitch, and who lived a life full of faith surrounded by his loving family.

Joe Pat Prunty was laid to rest on Sunday, January 31. He is deeply regretted by his loving wife, Angela; children John, Edel (Raymond), Maria, Nora (David) and Joseph; grandchildren Bernard, David, Molly, Thomas and James, and the entire family circle.

Funeral arrangements were by Paul Mohan Funeral Director and Monumental Mason.

See also Page 42.

A Life – poem by daughter, Edel, paying tribute to Joe Pat Prunty

A life…

A life lived in Derryvollan, Lettergreen and Gortacharn

A life in the green and white of Roslea Shamrocks and Fermanagh

A life of digging soil with a Mc Mahon spade

A life of “Angela, did you find my…..”

A life of family, friends and faith

A life of prayer, chaplets and Medjugorje

A life of laying pitches with pride

A life of workmen and being the Boss

A life clocking up the miles in his beloved Range Rover

A life of magical days in Croke Park

A life of “Praise be Jesus”

A life of gentleness, kindness and love

A life well lived,

A life fulfilled,

A life on the journey to heaven