A Worcestershire born Englishman, who spent just a year short of half of his life among the community here in Castleisland, has just gone to his eternal reward.
Born in the Stourbridge area of the West Midlands 71 years ago, the late Paul Malpass had one sister with whom he lost contact a while back.
She worked in a Social Welfare office in Worcester.
Paul, a talented and thoroughly qualified plasterer, arrived in Castleisland in 1980 shortly after his employer and friend, Jim O’Connor decided to move back here and take over the management of The Fountain Bar.
Ready for Plastering
Jim was building his family home in Cragg at the time and Paul arrived here as soon as the house was ready for plastering.
The two men had worked together over the years in the UK and they continued their association after the move to Castleisland 36 years ago.
The late Paul Malpass lived in a mobile home in Cragg for a while before moving into Castleisland town. He spent a long term in a house at Upper Main Street and then in a series of flats in various parts of the town.
Former TD, Tom Fleming, to his credit, worked on getting him the house in which he spent his retirement years at No. 7 Cahereens West.
He was over the moon at the thought of being able to put a key in his own front door and having a place to call home.
A Small Delegation
This was after a small delegation of his friends and fellow tipplers from Sheila Prendiville’s Bar & Grocery made representations on his behalf.
He contributed hugely to the life of devilment and fun at Sheila’s and was instrumental in introducing the game of Knock 31 to the clientele and to the counter of the little Main Street pub / grocery.
He was typically English in the honesty of his outlook – even when it came to the application of rules in that simple game of cards.
He was often genuinely appalled at the blatant disregard we had for the drafting of the Anglo / Irish constitution of the game which he and the late Mike Kenny and David ‘Dauber’ Prendiville took weeks over.
West Midlands Accent
The rules were often openly warped in his presence just to hear him swearing in that broad Black Country accent.
Paul travelled light. There will be no family members to sympathise with at Tangney’s Funeral Home on Monday morning.
However, local undertaker, Bernard Tangney has invited his friends and neighbours – including the patrons from his local in recent years, The Shoemaker’s Bar – to be present to give him a good send off. May God be good to him.
The following notice has been supplied by Bernard Tangney.
The late Paul Malpass – Funeral Arrangements
The death has occurred of Paul Malpass, 7 Cahereen’s West, Castleisland and late of Stourbridge, Worcestershire, England.
There will be a Rosary at Tangney’s Funeral Home, Castleisland on Monday morning August 1st at 10.15am followed by removal to Castleisland Parish Church for Requiem Mass at 11am.
Burial afterwards in St. John’s Cemetery, Castleisland. May His Gentle Soul Rest in Peace. Date Published: Friday, July 29th. 2016. Date of Death: Thursday, July 28th.2016.
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