Recently, the Retired Active Men’s Social (RAMS) celebrated the 90th birthday of our esteemed member Mr Pat Weldon. Pat has been a member of the RAMS since its inception in October 2010.The group celebrated his birthday with a large birthday cake, made by a daughter of member Mario Aprile, and thoroughly enjoyed by the 40 members attending the activity morning. Their very own Musical Director, Mr Liam O Donnell provided music, and of course sang Happy Birthday. A visitor on the day, Mr Neal Doherty author of The statues and sculptures of Dublin City, gave the group a rendition of Percy French, Are you right there Michael are you right which was sung many time by Pat Weldon. Neal also presented Pat with a signed copy of his book.
Pat was born March 1933, lived in Brownstown, Newcastle, Co. Dublin The family moved to Hynestown, Peamount road, Newcastle two years later He attended Newcastle National School until he was 14 years old. Then, he then went to Peamount Hospital and worked on the farm for 7 years. His job entailed thinning turnips, picking potatoes, harvesting onions, and general farm work. During that time, Pat became a member of the Rathcoole and district Pipe Band, and they played on the day when St Finian’s won the Intermediate Championship in Parnell Park in 1949. The following Sunday they played in Newbridge, when Ardclough beat the Army in the County Final. He also joined the Newcastle Church Choir after leaving school, and they sang at mass every Sunday, at funerals, and weddings, and only stopped in 2020 when the pandemic halted everything.
Pat married in August 1964, to Kathleen Thornton from Celbridge. They have 5 children, 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild, and 58 years later they are still going strong. In the early 1950’s, Pat moved jobs from Peamount Hospital to Swiftbrook Paper mills in Saggart Swiftbrook Paper mills made the highest grades of paper. Unfortunately, in 1972 the papermill closed and Pat was made redundant along with his friends and work colleagues, but he enjoyed working there for 20 years Pat left the papermill in Saggart and returned to Peamount Hospital, where he worked as a boiler man, keeping the heating going in the hospital until the gas was installed in the late 90’s, then he had to combine his duties as boiler man with security work until his retirement in 1998. He loved every minute of his working life and when he retired, he took a part time job in Concast Precast for a few more years.
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Pat was also a member of the Rathcoole Drama Group. They toured the country with plays like, Juno and the Peacock, Is the priest at home? Cat on a hot tin roof, The plough and the stars, Sive, Big
Maggie and many more plays, and they won many competitions through the years. Pat loves singing and would sing in pubs, clubs and hotels when he had the time, he was fortunate enough to win and be placed in a number of song contests. In 2010 he joined the RAMS which was a new outlet, with social outings and singing for charity with his friends, in The RAMS in Rhythm. Pat’s hobbies include gardening, singing, drama, GAA, and most sports. He also enjoys going to matches, and watching St Finian’s GAA and Dublin football team play. He loves watching most sports from GAA, Rugby, Soccer to Snooker, Horse Racing etc.
Happy 90th Birthday Pat!
