A dedicated father who gave his heart and soul to family and club
By Maurice Garvey
TRIBUTES have poured in for former Bluebell United legend Patrick ‘Lar’ Lanigan (66), who passed away in St James’s Hospital on August 6 after a 14-month battle with illness.
The Bluebell native and Clondalkin resident had “blue blood” of the club “running through his veins” but he was also a dedicated family man, raising eight children with his beloved wife and “diamond rock” Geraldine.
The Lanigan family have a strong history with Bluebell United – the current Leinster Senior League champions – in 1946 Patrick’s father co-founded the club in Camac Park.
Patrick was associated with the club for 46 years either as a player or committee member.
His brothers Gerard and David (former club chairman) were also involved with the club, and Patrick proudly presented the Lanigan Cup every year in memory of David.
The Lanigan family delivered a moving eulogy to their father at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Clondalkin, on August 9.
In the eulogy, the family thanked everyone for their support, including doctors, nurses and staff at St James’s Hospital, where he spent his last few weeks.
Born in 1950, Patrick grew up the second youngest of seven kids in Nugget Cottages, Bluebell – before moving to Oakwood Grove in Clondalkin after his marriage to Geraldine.
He started working at age 16 working in Irish Rail as a coach maker, and was known by co-workers as ‘Big Lar’ – working in the carriage shop building Craven Coaches before moving to maintenance on locomotive engines.
Big Lar enjoyed 42 years service with the company before his retirement in 2008 – often working 12-hour days and the odd weekend call-out to fix broken rail windshields.
His co-workers would jokingly ask if his kids were throwing stones from bridges “to get the extra overtime.”
Patrick loved playing the Inter Depot football competition against other workers in the Inchicore Works.
The avid Man Utd fan was proud of the fact that his sons Paul, Eoin and Alan, began working in Irish Rail, following his footsteps in the competition, but was always quick to remind them how often he won it.
Prior to his diagnosis with cancer, a favourite memory of Patrick was a weekend family trip to Carlow to celebrate his 40th wedding anniversary – something he had hoped to do again.
A tribute posted on the Bluebell United FC Facebook page, said they “regret to announce the passing of Paddy Lanigan a true Bluebell United legend.”
The club said he gave his “heart and soul to his club and he will be sadly missed by all.”
Patrick is survived by his wife Geraldine, children Patrick, Paul, Eoin, Alan, Grace, Ciara, Conor and Niall, grandchildren, his brother John and three sisters Colette, Angela and Rosaleen, along with wider family and friends.
