Talk:Peter J. Ward

Obituary

• Donegal Democrat, Friday, 9 January 1970; 'Page: 1

Donegal's first T.D

Mr. Peter Joseph Ward, solicitor, Raphoe, former Donegal County Registrar, whose death took place at Lifford District Hospital on Tuesday, aged 78, was one of Donegal's three surviving members of the first Dail, and a man who played a prominent part in Ireland's fight for freedom.

Mr. Ward, who was born in Killybegs, "the son of a local schoolteacher and Gaelic League organiser, was imbued with the spirit of republicanism from an early age. When he left University College, Dublin, where he obtained his B.A. and LL.B. he became active in the Independence movement. A solicitor in Killybegs and Donegal, he organised Sinn Fein all over the area and was appointed Commandant of the South Donegal Brigade of the I.R.A. As Republican candidate in the 1918 elections he scored a decisive victory.

[Picture in original, not reproduced in scan] The late Mr. Ward

ON THE RUN

For two years he was "on the run" before he was arrested and jailed in Derry, Belfast, and Wormwood Scrubs, where he went on hunger strike. Later he was directed by the I.R.A. to take up residence in Dublin. He retired from active political life in 1924 after being re-elected in East Donegal in 1923. Two years later he became Donegal County Registrar, a post held until he retired in 1961.

Since his retirement from public office he had practiced in Raphoe.

The late Mr. Ward, who was of a jovial, friendly nature, was charitable to an extreme, and his kindly nature won for him a host of friends in all walks of life. About his personal achievements, whether in the cause of his country or otherwise, he eschewed publicity and indeed a hallmark of his life was his truly Christian spirit of humility and his interest in and work for the welfare of his people.

FUNERAL TRIBUTE

The news of his death was received throughout the North-West with deep regret among all who knew him over the years. The big attendance, representatives of the professional, business and social life of the area, at the removal of the remains to St. Eunan's Church, Raphoe, on Wednesday, was an eloquent testimony to the high regard in which he was held by all creeds and classes.

(continued on Page 12) THE LATE P. J. WARD ((Continued from Page 1)

There was again a big attendance at the funeral this (Thursday) morning to St. Mary's Church, Killybebs, where Requiem Mass was celebrated. The interment took place immediately afterwards in the family burial ground.

In the big concourse of mourners were representatives of the President, Taoiseach, the judiciary, both houses of the Oireachtas, and the Old I.R.A., as well as every facet of life in the county. Old I.R.A. comrades provided a guard of honour, and all military honours were accorded at the graveside.

He is survived by his son, Mr. John P. Ward, solicitor, Donegal, and his daughter, Sister Eunan, of the Medical Missionaries of Mary, Biafra.

COURT TRIBUTES

Prior to the start of business at Donegal District Court on Wednesday, Mr. Donal Gallagher, LL.B., solr., on behalf of the legal profession, said he would like to express the sympathy of the legal profession to Mr. John Ward, solr., on the death of his father.

District Justice Larkin, joining in the vote of sympathy, said in the death of P. J. Ward, they had lost "a great character" who was known to them all. He regretted his death very much and he asked that their expressions of sympathy be conveyed to his family.

Supt. R. T. Gilpin, G.S., and the Court Clerk, Mr. John Brown, also joined in the vote of sympathy.

Mr. Ward was a former chairman of Donegal County Council. In his student days he played soccer for U.C.D. and was a junior international. In later years, in the early twenties, he served as president of the Donegal County Board G.A.A.

AN APPRECIATION

If P. J. Ward had a fault at all it was a deep sense of urbanity, not the politeness of affectation, but a sincere striving after geniality. He scorned pretention, put little store on position, and vied with no one in the matter of social standing. At times his affableness could have been mistaken for brusquesness, but that was because he held in abhorrence the pretence of men who affected social superiority. Yet there was none more dignified.

Few of us possess the twin virtues of humility and dignity, but P. J. Ward possessed them to a marked degree. The forensic atmosphere of the Courts, in which others might find themselves exalted, had no superior meaning for him, though his respect for it as an institution of State was never in question. His bearing at all times bore the stamp of humaneness, a facet of character which set at ease the mind of many an unfortunate in the dock facing a judge and jury.

To use a trite saying, he was all things to all men. His naturalness won him unsought esteem.

To praise him was to incur his ire. He had a lowly estimate of his work as a citizen. He preferred to do good for good's sake, which explains why an abundance of charitable works went unacknowledged. No one but God will ever know the extent of his charity or the numbers to whom it brought succour. It can be said in all sincerity that P. J. Ward did much more towards others than was necessary to merit the eternal reward. May his humble soul rest in peace.

C.K.

• Irish Press, Wednesday, 7 January 7, 1970; Page: 12

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