Thursday, November 07, 2019

Vale Paul (Patrick) - Irish Athenry: "Town of the Ford of the King"


“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." ~Matthew 7:7 


The Fields of Athenry is an Irish folkballad. Set during the Great Famine of the 1840s, the lyrics feature a fictional man from near Athenry in County Galway, who stole food for his starving family and has been sentenced to transportation to the Australian penal colony at Botany Bay. It is a widely known and popular anthem for Irish sports supporters.A story of Athenry



Paul was an inspiration to all who knew him even the opposition members of NSW Parliament were fond of him just fact check the inspiring stories with his rival Leader of the House, Andrew Tink, who openly showed affection and respect Paul commanded ...

To boot, as most characters who have Irish genes Paul always had a smile on his face and a joke on his lips - Paul was known for his Urbach-Dirkis like Yammerish puns... 


BOB CARR. Vale Paul Francis Patrick Whelan.


Bob Carr Tribute to Paul Whelan October 31, 2019.
Former New South Wales Premier Bob Carr paid tribute to his Police Minister Paul Whelan for his achievement in implementing the Wood Royal Commission recommendations to reform policing in NSW.  Continue reading  




Respected NSW Labor elder and the state's longest serving police minister Paul Whelan has died.
Mr Whelan was a member of the NSW Parliament from 1976 to 2003 and a minister in the Wran and Carr governments. He represented the seat of Ashfield, which later became Strathfield. 

























Former premier Bob Carr and Paul Whelan at Labor's 1994 state conference.
Former premier Bob Carr and Paul Whelan at Labor's 1994 state conference.
Photo: Kenneth Stevens
He was Police Minister from 1995 to 2001.
A statement from his family said Mr Whelan, 75, died on Wednesday with his family by his side after living with cancer for the past two years.
"Upon retirement from politics, Mr Whelan established Luskin Park Stud and successfully bred a number of Group 1 winning racehorses including Foxwedge and Rock Classic," the statement said.
NSW longest Service Police minister Paul Whelan dies 2019



Paul opened many doors to strangers even Bomemian strangers like me. Paul had a knack for creating level playing fields as unlike Many politicians  he treated everyone the same be it the King or the Klassless librarians ... many of his constituents,  like MO’N who made me aware of this sad news, considered themselves to be lucky to be represented by Paul ...

It was a true bliss to share a beer and a story with Paul be it at the Orient Hotel, the Nippon Club or Strangers Dining Room at the Bear Pit ...





Date listed: 5/11/2019

WHELAN Paul Francis Patrick
12.12.1943 - 30.10.2019
Much loved husband of Colleen. Father of John, Catherine, Bridget and Stephen. Father-in-law of Sinead, Justin and Rachel. Loving Grandpa of Jack, Liam, Isabella, Kate, Emily, Brodie and Patrick.
A funeral to celebrate Paul’s life will be held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Longueville Road, Lane Cove on Thursday November 7, 2019, commencing at 10.30am.



But a lonely prison wall, 
I heard a young girl calling 
Michael they have taken you away,
For you stole trevelyn's corn
So the young might see the morn,
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay
Low lie, The Fields Of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing, 
Its so lonely round the Fields of Athenry
By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young man calling
'Nothing matters Mary, when you're free'
Against the famine and the crown, 
I rebelled, they brought me down 
Now its lonely round the Fields of Athenry
By a lonely harbour wall
She watched the last star falling 
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
Sure she'll live in hope and pray
For her love in Botney Bay 
Its so lonely round the Fields Of Athenry


Coda:
Knowing Paul’s sense of humour he would  approve of our choice for lunch today at the
Wicked Virgin at Rutherglen