A POIGNANT ceremony was held recently at the first men’s shelter, Bull Wall, to mark the death of a popular member of the swimming community.
Paddy Tallon, from Finglas West, died suddenly during the summer, much to the great shock of his family and friends.
His wish had been to have his ashes scattered in the sea at the Bull Wall, and a couple of months after his death they were duly scattered in the tide.
Ciaran Foley, from Tonlegee Road, said he and his fellow swimmers at the Bull Wall were
“shocked and saddened
? at news of Paddy’s death at the age of 62.
“It had only been a few days since Paddy had been in the shelter enjoying the good weather,
? Mr Foley told Northside People.
“When Paddy was present everybody was aware.
“As an avid reader, and a student of matters medical, historical and scientific, he was like a chairman for much of the discussion and debate that seems to preoccupy men before and after their swim.
“He was good at listening to the other opinions that were aired, but when he started speaking, his clarion voice took over.
“He was a great man for facts and figures, and his years as a barman had given him access to many inside stories. It would be something of an understatement to say he was a colourful character.
?
According to Mr Foley, Paddy’s family set a time and date for the ash-scattering ceremony.
“From about 2pm on the Saturday, people started to arrive for the ceremony,
? he said.
“By 3pm, the shelter was packed and many were standing on the wall outside.
“Then Paddy’s widow and their family arrived with the urn containing the ashes. Father Tom Colreavy, himself a regular swimmer at the shelter, conducted the ceremony. It was a lovely warm day, a full tide and not a breath of wind.
“There was a profound and respectful silence.
“Every word of Father Tom’s prayers and reassuring talk could be clearly heard. When Father Tom had given the final blessing, each member of Paddy’s family kissed the urn.
“Then Paddy’s son, who had stripped to his swimming togs, entered the water holding the urn in one hand while swimming on his back.
“When he was about 10 yards out, he scattered the ashes on the tide where he had seen Paddy swimming a short time previous.
“In fact, the last time I had seen him (Paddy) there, he had said back to the lads in the shelter:
‘It doesn’t get any better than this’.
?
Mr Foley said the moment was greeted with loud and prolonged applause from those assembled.
“You felt they were trying to convey their appreciation of the man they had lost and their sadness at his parting,
? he added.
Just before those assembled left the poignant scene, Michael McDonald read out a few verses of a poem he had written about Paddy.