RAMS member Pat on song at 90th celebrations
A LOCAL man celebrated his 90th birthday in Newcastle Community Centre last Thursday, surrounded by his colleagues from the RAMS in Rhythm choir.
Pat Weldon, who was born in Brownsbarn, Newcastle in March 1933, is an active member of the RAMS (Retired Active Men’s Social) choir.
Always keen to sing a tune, Pat merrily sang with his choirmates on his birthday and was also treated to renditions of his favourite songs.
Neal Doherty, the author of ‘The Statues and Sculptures of Dublin City’, was the special guest on the day and sang one of Pat’s favourite songs, Percy French’s ‘Are You Right There, Michael’.
Pat is well known to many in the community, as he was born and raised in Newcastle and was employed by local companies for the entirety of his working life.
He started working at age 14 on the farm in Peamount Hospital, and in the 1950s he changed jobs and began working in the Swiftbrook Paper Mills in Saggart.
In 1972, Pat and his colleagues were made redundant when the paper mill closed, and he returned to Peamount Hospital where he worked as a boiler man.
He was tasked with making sure the heating kept going in the hospital and, with the introduction of gas-fuelled heat in the hospital in the 1990s, Pat’s duties were then combined with security work.
Pat retired in 1998, but throughout his working life and post-retirement, he’s maintained strong involvement in the community and is a proud family man.
In August 1964, Pat married Celbridge native Kathleen Thornton, and the couple went on to have five children, and are grandparents to four children, and great-grandparents to one.
Alongside working and raising his family, Pat also took part in community groups such as the Rathcoole Drama Group, the Rathcoole and District Pipe Band, and the Newcastle Church Choir.
In 2010, RAMS in Rhythm was founded and Pat swiftly signed up – and has been a valued member of the group ever since.
Matt Dowling from RAMS in Rhythm told The Echo: “Pat loves singing and would sing in pubs, clubs and hotels when he had the time.
“He was fortunate enough to win and be placed in a number of song contests.
“In 2010 he joined the RAMS which was a new outlet, with social outings and singing for charity with his friends, in the RAMS in Rhythm.”
Outside of singing, Pat’s other interests include gardening, drama, GAA, going to matches, and watching St Finian’s GAA Club and the Dublin football team play.
For the RAMS in Rhythm, he’s an invaluable part of the choir, and Matt added that they’re looking forward to many more years of Pat singing alongside them.
“We look forward to many more years of Pat singing with the RAMS in Rhythm,” he said, “and supporting the RAMS club.”
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