Patricia ‘did a huge amount of work in the community’

PATRICIA Bryan has been remembered for the indelible mark she left on the development of Tallaght as a community activist, after she passed away last week following a short illness.

Patricia was involved in Tallaght Community Council (TCC) from the 1980s until the early 2000s, during key points in the development of the area.

Then living in Springfield, Patricia took an active role in making sure the community’s voice was heard when developments such as the Square and the hospital were brought forward.

Roderic Smyth, who was on the TCC committee with Patricia for several years, told The Echo about what Tallaght was like during part of Patricia’s tenure.

“Back in the day, and at that time [the 1980s], there wasn’t a lot for people in Tallaght,” Roderic recalled.

“We had one bus, the 77, which came every hour-and-a-half, and The Square wasn’t built. If you wanted to do your shopping, you had to go to Kilnamanagh.

“Patricia lived in Springfield, where I also lived, and she could see the gaps – we were a very rapidly growing community, without services matching the speed of growth.”

The mother-of-four worked hard to put Tallaght on the map and for the development of services, and under her stewardship the Tallaght Person of the Year Awards managed to help with that.

Presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, and Taoisigh including Charlie Haughey, Bertie Ahern and Albert Reynolds, were guests of honour at the awards during Patricia’s time.

“The Tallaght Person of the Year Awards were actually held in a hall in St Mark’s GAA Club for the first 10 or 15 years,” said Roderic.

“In those days, the awards had guest speakers who were political heavy hitters, including three Taoisigh and two presidents.

“You don’t get that calibre of politician to a community event in a GAA club hall without being particularly passionate about the area and determined – and Patricia was.

“She steered the development of Tallaght from being a new estate on the outskirts to having things like Tallaght Hospital and the college.

“I’m not sure how much of that would’ve happened without the recognition from the politicians who attended the awards and saw what the area needed.”

Former councillor Charlie O’Connor was a longtime friend of Patricia and said her community activism began in Springfield before she went on to TCC.

“She was effectively a community activist,” he said. “That started 40 years ago in Springfield, when she was chairperson of St Mark’s Residents’ Association.

“Then she became chairperson of Tallaght Community Council and was very active in various campaigns like The Square and the hospital.

“But, in the eyes of many, she would be closely associated with the development of Tallaght Person of the Year.

“She certainly was responsible for the development of Tallaght Person of the Year and invited serious politicians.

“She was a great woman, and she was a family person and had those responsibilities, but still did a huge amount of work in the community.”

A TCC spokesperson noted that Patricia “volunteered across a pivotal time for Tallaght in the 1980s and 1990s where the community had to lobby hard for basic infrastructure and amenities to serve the growing community in Tallaght.

“She laid firm foundations that the present-day volunteers with TCC continue to build upon.

“All of TCC extend our deepest condolences to her family and wide circle of friends. We are grateful for her commitment and contribution to Tallaght with TCC.”

Patricia Bryan, née Murphy, beloved wife of Liam and adored mother of Orla, Lorraine, Paul and Ciara, passed away on Wednesday, July 10.

Her funeral was held in St Colmcille’s Church in Knocklyon on Monday, July 15, followed by burial at Kilternan Cemetery Park.