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Assistant Chief Paddy Brennan

Paddy Brennan (he was known by his middle name, Dermot, when he was a youngster in Kiltimagh) was born in Greyfield, about a mile south of the town, on the 1st August 1935.

He received his primary education at Ballyglass National School. Paddy would have made the daily trips, on the short cuts to and from school, through the village of Greyfield and the boreen that led all the way to the humble two- roomed schoolhouse.

During the summer holidays, Paddy, like all the young sons of the small farmers in the area, worked hard on the land. After the hay was saved it was time to bring home the black turf from Brackloon bog.

Soon, however, Paddy took the emigrant trail to England, as there was little hope of work in the Kiltimagh area, in the 1950s. It was a decade when thousands of young people were leaving the country. He spent a few years working in England before heading for America in 1958.

He joined the New York Police Department in 1965. He quickly gained promotion through the ranks, becoming Assistant Chief in 1997. He served on various bureaus and was a member of different societies during his distinguished career.

Paddy was a devoted husband of Monica, and dear father of John, Dermot, Martin, Patrick Jnr., Maureen and Tara. And yet he found time to contribute enormously to his parish, and to the Mayo Society, while graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Police Management.

Within a few months of his retirement, Paddy took ill, and died, ironically, on the day he planned to make his first trip back to Ireland after a forty-year absence. The date was 29th May 1999. He was called "home" before he had time to revisit his ancestral home.

During the eulogy at his funeral mass, his son Martin said of him:

"He'll be remembered for a million things, but especially for his big, red, open faced, shoulder-hunching laugh…"

May he rest in peace.