ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Joseph (Paschal) McCann of 2 The Avenue, Graigavern Lodge, Ballybrittas, County Laois and formerly of Kildare and Kilkenny. Patrick passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, 29th October 2024. Predeceased by his wife Joan (Cogley). Sadly missed by his loving wife Nelly Bolanos Hernández, his daughters Catraoine and Noelle, son Stephen, sons-in-law, Paul and David, daughter-in-law Caroline, his grandchildren Ciarán, Joe, Muirenn, Roisín, Mai, Ethan, and Ellie, his brothers Brendan and Noel, sister Anne, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours, Defence Forces comrades, and friends in Ireland and Costa Rica.
May Patrick Rest In Peace
Patrick Joseph (known throughout the Defence Forces as Paschal) McCann was born on 14th October 1941, and completed his secondary education in Saint Kieran’s College, Kilkenny. His father Patrick, who was a War of Independence veteran, served as a Sergeant-Major in the Defence Forces. Paschal enlisted in Óglaigh na hÉireann as a member of 36 Cadet Class on 12th December 1961 and was commissioned into the Infantry Corps on 15th July 1963. His two brothers would also serve in the Defence Forces; Colonel Brendan McCann is a member of 38 Cadet Class (1963/1965), and Commandant Noel McCann is a member of 43 Cadet Class (1968/1970).
Paschal served with the General Training Depot in the Curragh Training Camp. As a Captain he was Company Commander of the Recruit Company there in 1970/1971. He was an instructor in the Cadet School from 1972 and was the Officer-in-Charge of 47 Cadet Class and 50 Cadet Class. As a Commandant he was a Staff Officer at Headquarters Curragh Command and Second-in-Command 3 Infantry Battalion. In the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he was Officer Commanding 30 Infantry Battalion and Officer Commanding Curragh Command FCA at Stephens Barracks, Kilkenny. As well as serving overseas with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and with The United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in the Middle East, Paschal served in Lebanon as Company Commander, C Company, 53 Infantry Battalion UNIFIL from May to October 1983. He was a military observer with ONUCA (Observadores de las Naciones Unidas en Centroamérica – United Nations Observer Group in Central America) during 1990/1991.
Paschal was a former Chairman of the Curragh Rugby Club and past Captain of the Royal Curragh Golf Club.
Patrick will repose at his daughter’s residence (R32 KT04) Ballybrittas, County Laois, on Friday from 5pm to 8pm with recital of the Rosary at 8pm. Removal by Whelehan Funeral Directors on Saturday, 2nd November at 1:15pm to arrive to the Saint Brigid’s church in The Curragh (R56 H317) for 2pm Requiem Mass. (https://www.facebook.com/TheCurraghChurch/)
Private cremation to follow at a later date. Family flowers only please. Donations in leu to The Irish Cancer Society. (https://www.cancer.ie/ways-to-help/donate/in-memory-tributes-to-your-loved-one/donate-in-memory)
The McCann Family would like to thank you for your support during this sensitive and difficult time.
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Paschal’s death notice on rip.ie – https://rip.ie/death-notice/lt-col-patrick-joseph-mccann-kildare-573238
