Tributes have been paid to a man “who lived life to the fullest” after he died after getting into difficult while swimming in Co Carlow last week.
Paddy Morris, 39, was taken from the water at the River Barrow near Carlow Town on Wednesday.
Sadly, despite best efforts the Tyrone native was pronounced dead at the scene.
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His funeral mass took place at the Church of the Assumption, Tullyallen, Co Tyrone on Monday morning.
Paddy had been living in Co Kildare for the past number of years with his partner of 18 years Andrea and their daughter Sienna, 7.
The local community gathered in Kilkea, Co Kiladre and a guard of honour was formed on Saturday afternoon to remember the dad as he made his way home to Tyrone.
Speaking at his funeral mass Fr Patrick Hannigan said Paddy was a passionate gaelic football player and had a love for music.
He remembered Paddy as a “very talented musician” and a “singer and a songwriter.”
He added: “Everywhere Paddy went he played GAA football. At school, in Monaghan, Liverpool and Grange and Milford in Carlow. He was a very competitive young man.
“He recorded an album in James Stewart’s studio and he was in the South Ulster Youth Academy Orchestra, playing the trumpet. He was a carpenter and joiner and started out with his brother Mark. He provided a lovely home for Andrea and his daughter Sienna.
“So many memories, so much life and light brought into his family by Patrick. He was a man full of life, a carefree spirit, who lived his life to the fullest.”
Paddy will be sadly missed by his partner Andrea, daughter Sienna, his mother Mary, his siblings Mark, Veronica, Marie, Bernadette, Bridget, Catherine, Sarah, James and John, his extended family and many friends.
He was laid to rest in the cemetery of the Church of St John the Baptist, Galbally, following funeral mass at the Church of the Assumption, Tullyallen, Co Tyrone.
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