ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death, on Tuesday 19th November 2024, of Lieutenant-Commander Patrick (Paddy) Kavanagh, Rushbrooke Terrace, Cobh, County Cork. Husband and best friend of Breda, much loved father of Hazel, Cormac, Hugh, Gráinne, Oona, Patricia, and Moira. Father-in-law of John, Al, Gary, Matt, Brian and Catherine, adored grandad of Eoin, Niamh, Jane, Harper, Adam, Elliot, Molly, Orla, Meave, Emily, and Jodie. Forever loved by his brothers Brendan, Denis and John, and the late Ger, Eileen, Ann and Mary, his extended family, wonderful neighbours, his Naval and Defence Forces comrades and friends.
May Patrick rest in peace
LÉ Gráinne
Patrick (Paddy) Kavanagh enlisted in the Defence Forces as a member of 7 Naval Service Cadet Class and was commissioned in 1963. Paddy served in a wide variety of appointments throughout the Naval Service, both ashore and afloat, including Commandant of the Naval School and at Naval Service Headquarters. Seagoing commands included LÉ Gráinne where in 1976 the detention of the large Russian fishing vessel Belmoroye developed into a tense standoff resolved only when an armed boarding party took control of the ship, ending with a successful arrest and prosecution. Paddy also commanded LÉ Setanta which was the first Naval Service ship to visit Iceland, and his final command being of the LÉ Emer. He had a wide variety of interests and was a tenacious scrumhalf for both the Naval Service and Cobh Pirates. Paddy retired in 1983 to take up the appointment of harbour master in Dunmore East, County Waterford where he served until final retirement brought him back to his native Cobh. Paddy had followed his elder brother Commodore John Kavanagh (Flag Officer Commanding) into the Naval Service and his nephew, Lieutenant Barry Kavanagh also served.
Patrick will repose at Cahill’s Funeral Home, Newtown Road, Cobh P24Y383 on Friday November 22nd from 7pm to 8.30pm. Removal on Saturday November 23rd at 3pm from the funeral home to The Island Crematorium for 4pm service. The service will be livestreamed on www.islandcrematorium.ie
No flowers please. Donations in lieu if desired to The Royal National Lifeboat Institution: https://rnli.org/support-us/give-money/donate
Special thanks to the staff of Cork University Hospital for their sincere kindness and support in looking after Paddy.
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Paddy’s death notice on rip.ie – https://rip.ie/death-notice/patrick-kavanagh-cork-cobh-575359
