30/05/2026
We bid farewell to our dear comrade Paddy Fitzsimons in Glasnevin yesterday.
His conviction, dedication, and personal warmth shall continue to inspire us. He will not be forgotten.
Below is an oration from Michael McCorry, President of the Workers’ Party, about Paddy. Beidh sé inár gcuimhne go deo.
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Comrades, friends, Paddy's family.
Paddy was one of those rare people whose presence made a difference the moment he walked into a room. Some people fill a room with noise, some with importance, but Paddy filled a room with warmth. He had that gift that cannot be taught and cannot be manufactured, the ability to make people feel welcome, valued and at ease. His smile, his humour, his stories and his songs had a way of bringing people together, and anyone who had the privilege of knowing him was better for it.
For decades Paddy was a loyal and committed party member, a proud republican and socialist who believed deeply in the values and principles he stood for. He never hesitated to stand up and be counted, especially when times were difficult or when our movement came under attack. Paddy wasn’t someone who stood quietly at the side-lines. He believed in standing with his comrades, standing with working people, and standing up for what he believed was right.
He was honest and reliable, and he spoke his mind. You never had to wonder where you stood with Paddy because he would tell you, often with complete honesty and probably with a joke thrown in for good measure. He had a way of saying things that could make you laugh while also reminding you of what really mattered.
But beyond his politics and his commitment, Paddy was first and foremost a man who loved people. He was endlessly loyal to his friends and comrades and deeply devoted to his family. Those closest to him knew the depth of that love and loyalty. He was the kind of person you could depend on, whether you needed support, advice, a conversation, or simply someone to sit beside you and share a story.
What says so much about Paddy is that it wasn’t only those who had spent years and decades beside him who loved him and valued him. Younger and newer members, people who had only recently come into the movement, gravitated naturally towards him. People are drawn to genuine warmth and sincerity, and Paddy had both in abundance. He had a way of making people feel that they belonged. He welcomed people, encouraged people and made them feel like friends.
And of course, there was the craic. Paddy brought life with him. There will be many of us who will remember the songs he sang, the laughter he created, and the moments where he had everyone around him joining in. There are people who attend gatherings, and then there are people who become part of the spirit of those gatherings. Paddy was one of those people.
Today we mourn the loss of a comrade and a friend, but we also celebrate a life well lived. His passing leaves a hole in our ranks and in our hearts that will not easily be filled. But people like Paddy never truly leave us. They remain in the stories we tell, the songs we sing, the laughter we remember and the values they carried through life.
To Paddy’s family, we send our deepest sympathy and our heartfelt condolences. We share in your grief and your loss, but also in your pride, because you shared Paddy with all of us. We were fortunate to know him, fortunate to laugh with him, fortunate to stand beside him, and fortunate to call him our friend and comrade.
Paddy will be forever remembered, forever missed and forever carried with us.
