Paddy Henry:PADDY HENRY (or Pádraig Mac Einrí or he as was better known to his Irish-speaking friends and neighbours), who has died aged 90, was a stalwart of the community on Inishbiggle Island, Co Mayo.
The population of the outpost, which lies low in the Atlantic between Achill Island and Ballycroy, has been declining steadily over the past half-century. There were 73 inhabitants in 1994, and now there are fewer than 30. To them, Paddy Henry was an activist and campaigner on many issues, including water and roads.
His greatest concern and challenge though was the provision of a cable car service from Bullsmouth, Achill, to the island across some of the most treacherous tidal currents in Europe.
In spite of funding being allocated for the cable car on a number of occasions, the project eventually foundered due to planning objections and delays.
The final nail in the cable car coffin came in December 2005 when the then minister for community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, told islanders the project had been cancelled.
The minister announced that instead, almost €700,000 would be allocated to improving piers which could take a larger ferry link.
Henry was disappointed and dismayed by the decision. Despite the doom-mongers, he remained confident to his dying day that Innisbiggle would survive as a viable community.
Recalling his late friend’s unquenchable optimism, Pat Conway from Bullsmouth said last week: “Paddy was forever positive. He always believed there was something good coming around the next corner.”
That unshakeable optimism was often tested during Paddy’s long years as an activist and campaigner. Perhaps an even greater blow than the failure of the cable car campaign was the closure in 1990 of the island’s national school, which meant pupils had to be brought on a dangerous currach journey to Achill each day for their education.
In 1949, Paddy Henry married Bríd McManamon, a neighbour from the island, known to all as Baby. She survives him along with their children, Mary, PJ, James and Christy.
Paddy Henry was waked in his island home before being brought to Ballycroy on the mainland for burial.
At the funeral Mass, Fr Christopher Ginnelly recalled a man of strong faith, a determined campaigner, “a true Christian”.
Paddy Henry: born February 4th, 1920; died June 21st, 2010