In October, 1993 my Dad went to Kilrush Fair with Tom Kelly and Buddy Moran. He did not intend to buy anything but he eyed this pure bred Connemara Pony who was hungry. He could see the hidden quali- ties of the animal so he bought him. He had no money in his pocket. Tom Kelly said that he had a cheque book but horse dealers are very suspicious of cheques. They went to the bank and told the manager their story. "I'll phone the bank in Tarbert" he said. His friend Joe, the Tarbert Manager, said "give the man whatever he wants". He fed and groomed that pony like his own son or daughter. He wanted to develop those hidden qualities. He was full of this pony when I phoned him from Pakistan. I was really looking for- ward to seeing him when I went home. Unfortunately, the pony had an accident and died. When I arrived home my Dad told me the story. "I cried", he said, "three times in my life, when my mother died, when Noel Kennedy (his great horsey friend and neighbour) died and when that pony died". Great was his love and admiration for the horse.

Dad's other lifeline was the community and his friends. He knew everybody in the Tarbert communi- ty and was happy to drink a pint with anybody. He enjoyed their company and listened to their opinions, their wisdom. He also developed wonderful friends through the cattle, greyhounds and horses. He came home from the horse fair in Listowel last July (this was the last horse fair he attended) and he was so happy. "I met all my friends today even Pat McNamara from Clare" he said. "The only one I didn't meet was Bosco from Ballybunion. What ever happened him? I did not see him".

His relationship with his God was very central to his life. He may not have expressed it in his earlier days. It's a very secret thing for Irishmen. We don't talk about it to our friends. The culture seems to say that that stuff is fine for priests and nuns but not for real men. He felt a greater freedom to express and talk about it in his later years. The Mass, Rosary and Angelus were central for him. Everybody in Tarbert remembers that Patrick O'Hanlon's pony and trap arrived in Tarbert every Sunday for 8.30am Mass hail, rain or snow. He was the clock for many people in Tarbert. Patrick O'Hanlon's trap is going up Maurice O'Connor's hill - time to go to Mass.

When my mother got sick, my Dad accepted the responsibility to lead the Rosary every night. No matter where he was or whoever he was talking to (Priest, Bishop or Parson) he started the Angelus when the clock struck 12 o'clock mid-day and 6.00pm. The relationship with God grew and deepened over the years through his dialogue with life, its events, prob- lems, challenges and its joys and sorrows. He was very anxious and troubled at one period in his life. He asked me "will God really forgive me my sins, my failings and my shortcomings, for the times I did not fulfil my duties to Mom and the family?" He was full of trust and hope in the end. It was so consoling to hear him pray as he approached death. "Thanks be to God" "Amen, Amen" "Everything will come well in God's own time". "Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death". The day before he died he prayed for all the family and for the people who helped him on the farm. He turned to Mom from his bed at the kiss of peace during his final Mass the day he died, he took her hand and said "Peace to you Mom now and always" then he looked at all of us and said "Peace to all the family".

My Dad asked me when the people were going to see the moving statues "if you haven't found God at home, will you find Him in Ballinspittle?" Everything in the end was a sacrament of God for my Dad, the trees, flowers, the grass, the skies, sea, mountains, the cat, dog, horses and his friends because they revealed and brought him into contact with his creator.

Dad was buried on the eight of November, 2001. Some of my nephews and nieces gathered around my Mom the following day. They were playing with her and ask- ing her to write their names. The youngest grandchild, Seamus, said to her "Granda is gone to Heaven Grannie. He is very happy there. But he will be much happier when you are with him".

Patrick O'Hanlon is no longer in Dooncaha. The leaf has fallen from the tree. He is wherever we are.

Editor's Note: Fr. Tommy O'Hanlon was ordained in Tarbert in 1969. He worked with the Columban Fathers for over 30 years in the Mission fields of the Philippines and Pakistan. He captained the Kerry All-Ireland win ning Minor Football Team of 1962.