Write a comment
Family and friends of the late New York based Irish entrepreneur Paddy Reilly gathered in Cuan Mhuire (Sr Consilio's) Newry to remember the Cavan man who died in May of last year after a battle against kidney cancer.
Paddy along with his wife Angela (nee Murphy) became highly respected and prominent business people involved in the Restaurant and Licensed trade in New York as well as being active members of several Irish organizations in New York, among them the Cavan P&B Association and the Armagh Association. Paddy was also instrumental in the creation of the New York Irish Center in Long Island City, Queens.
Fr Brian Mc Creesh celebrated the Mass in Cuan Mhuire in memory of Paddy and after the service Sr Consilio founder in 1966 of Cuan Mhuire,Ireland’s largest voluntary provider of Rehabilitation Treatment for individuals suffering from addiction and other related issues, thanked the Reilly and Murphy families for their support and prayers. She told those present that she had met Paddy through a family friend,Sr Eileen Murphy and that he had helped her with a fund raising event in The Kerry Hall,Yonkers,New York, where Michael Sullivan had been in charge at the time.
Sr Consilio stated that she was aware of the high respect the late Paddy was held in and she assured Angela, daughter Kathleen, son Colm and his family and friends that they were in her and the Cuan Mhuire families thoughts and prayers.
A niece of Paddy's, Majella Murphy,presented Sr Consilio with a cheque for £3000. Majella ran the Amsterdam Marathon in memory of her uncle and raised £4500 in total. The Macular Disease Society received £1,500. Majella thanked everyone from both Ireland and the USA who sponsored and supported her fund raising marathon.
Since its formation in 1966 by Sr. Consilio, Cuan Mhuire has treated over 75,000 people. Its main objective is the rehabilitation of persons suffering from alcohol, drug and gambling addictions.
At any one time Cuan Mhuire has 600 people in treatment through their nationwide centres in Bruree, Co. Limerick; Farnanes, Co. Cork; Athy, Co. Kildare; Coolarne, Co. Galway and Newry, Co. Down.
