ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Pat Muldoon (Pádraig Ó Maoldúin) Baile an tSagairt, An Spidéal, Contae na Gaillimhe and formerly of Castleblayney, County Monaghan. In the early hours of Friday, 6th March 2026, Pat died peacefully in the comfort of his home, with his loving family by his side. Loving husband of Damhnait, and father to Caoimhe, Ros, Tríona and Brian. He will be dearly missed by his devoted wife and family. Mourned and very sadly missed also by his sister Colette, daughters-in-law Liv and Rosie, son-in-law John and granddaughters Aisling, Eimear, Róisín and Liana, who he loved and cherished dearly, by his extended family, neighbours, Defence Forces comrades and many friends. Pre-deceased by his daughter Caoimhe and her son Oscar, his parents Andrew and Margaret and by his siblings Seamus, Carmel, Tom, Frances and Jacinta.
Only death could defeat him (Alexander’s reputed epitaph)
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis
Pat Muldoon, a native of Castleblayney, was born on 3rd July 1952 and attended Saint Mary’s Boys Secondary School. He served for three years with C Company, 8 Infantry Battalion (An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil) reaching the rank of Corporal. On 14th October 1969, Pat enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force as a member of the 44 Cadet Class. He was Auditor of the Debating Society and was awarded the Justin McCarthy Trophy. Commissioned on 27th September 1971, he was appointed to the Infantry Corps and posted to the NCO School Curragh Command and later as a Platoon Commander with the reconstituted A Company 3 Infantry Battalion in Stephens Barracks, Kilkenny. On the establishment of the 30 Infantry Battalion, Pat was its first Adjutant. He served with 10 Infantry Battalion (An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil) in Wexford and returned to 30 Infantry Battalion on promotion to Commandant. Following his Command and Staff Course, Pat was posted as an Instructor in the School. In 1992, he graduated from the British Army Staff Course at Camberley. Having served in Training Section, Defence Forces Headquarters, Pat instructed in the Zambian Military College, Lusaka for a period of 12 months in 1999. Following promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel he was Officer Commanding, 2 Infantry Battalion and Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin.
Pat served three tours of duty in Lebanon with UNIFIL – 46 Infantry Battalion (1979/1980), 58 Infantry Battalion (1985/1986) and 76 Infantry Battalion (1994/1995). He served with UNTSO in the Middle East in 1988-1990, OSCE in Southern Serbia in 1996, and EUMM in Serbia and BiH in 2002 / 2003. His final overseas tour of duty was with HQ UNMIL Liberia in 2004.
Pat retired from Óglaigh na hÉireann to An Spidéal in December 2004 and later graduated with an Honours Degree in Archaeology and Classical Civilization from the National University of Ireland Galway. He spent many of his summers excavating and surveying in mainland Greece and the Cycladic Islands.
Beidh Pat á thórramh ina theach féin Dé Domhnaigh, 8ú Márta, 2026 i mBaile an tSagairt, An Spidéal idir 3-6 i.n. Beidh seirbhís againn ag 12.00 meán lae Dé Luain, 9ú Márta, 2026 i gCréamatóir Shionainne chun saol Pat a cheiliúradh.
Pat will repose at his home in Baile an tSagairt, An Spidéal from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday 8th March 2026. A cremation service in celebration of Pat’s life, will be held on Monday 9th March 2026 at Shannon Crematorium at 12 noon.
Donations in lieu of flowers to Galway Hospice in Memory of Pat Muldoon / Padraig Ó Maoldúin (Lt. Col. Retired) at: https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/PM91921458/donate.html
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Pat’s death notice on rip.ie at: https://rip.ie/death-notice/pat-muldoon-padraig-o-maolduin-lt-col-retired-galway-spiddal-623875
