It is with great sadness we record the sad loss of Michael Fitzpatrick, (84), who was an acclaimed author of seven books, a diligent researcher and local historian with a lifelong passion for traditional Irish music and was a good friend to many.

A native of Gorey, Michael was born on May 7th 1935 and was educated at Loreto Abbey, the Christian Brothers and Gorey Vocational School.

He became a joiner and carpenter by trade and completed his apprenticeship in 1956. He married Bridget Sheil in London’s Whitechapel in May, 1958, and the following year they returned to Gorey and raised their eight children.

In 1983, Michael was honoured as Gorey Person of the Year and in 1986 he published his first book Clonattin in the Fields, which was the story of the old Gorey parish where an ancient graveyard still stands.

He then embarked on a remarkable collection of Gorey’s rich history, heritage, its people and its culture, and commenced his 1-6 series of Historic Gorey…each backboned by a different theme… published in 1987, 1989, 1995, 1998, 2002 and 2012. This huge volume of work will remember Michael Fitzpatrick for his outright admiration for his own place and its people and will serve as a written memorial of his skills as a researcher, compiler and writer of generations of Gorey history.

He was active in St. Michael’s Pipe Band and served as its chairman in the 1960s and also served as chairman of Gorey Craobh of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for a number of years. His passion for traditional Irish music never waned and he passed on his love of music to many members of his family and extended family.     

FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENT; Michael Fitzpatrick Cluainin, Gorey (Local Historian and Musician), died July 22nd after a short illness at Wexford General Hospital. Beloved husband of Bridget and father of Mary, Michael, Pat, Sarah, Siobhan, Denis, David and Tom. Deeply regretted by his loving wife, sons, daughters, sisters Maureen and Margaret, brother Tommie, 32 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and neighbours. May He Rest in Peace. Michael will be reposing at Floods Funeral Home, McDermott Street, Gorey, on Tuesday (July 23rd) from 3 pm to 8 pm. Removal on Wednesday (July 24th) at 11.15 am to St. Michael’s Church Gorey for Funeral Mass at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in St. Michael’s Cemetery Gorey.