Joe Pat Prunty - a legacy like no other
March 04, 2021
The late Joe Pat Prunty
Joe Pat Prunty, who passed away at the end of January, was one of the greatest visionaries that has ever been involved in Gaelic Games.
No other man, or indeed family has left a similar legacy or footprint on the playing pitches of Ireland and beyond.
Joe Pat left school at 14 and worked on the family farm until he was 20. He set up his own agriculture business and purchased his first tractor in 1952. From there he worked developing his ploughing and drainage skills and in 1965 along with Moffett Engineering, Co. Monaghan developed the first mini-Trencher drainage machine.
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ROSLEA Pictured on the site with Shamrock Park in the background are Roslea stalwarts Tom Mulligan, Tommy Callaghan, Hugh Pat Clerkin, Joe Pat Prunty, Owenie Callaghan, Packie McCabe and Joe Goodwin.
True visionary Joe Pat passes away peacefully Posted: 2:22 pm February 7, 2021
By Jodie Curran
THE death has taken place of one of Fermanagh’s finest figures. Joe Pat Prunty (88), of Lettergreen, Newtownbutler, died peacefully at Gortacharn nursing home last Friday after a short illness.
Founder of Prunty Pitches, Mr Prunty was regarded as a “true visionary” and known across Ireland for developing GAA fields using a unique sand-based drainage system in which he received an MBE for his work in the field of drainage back in 1985.
A SEA of tributes have been flowing this week from all across the island of Ireland to the late Joe Pat Prunty; a father, innovator, and a man who more than made his mark on Irish football – quite literally, with Prunty Pitches up and down the island set to carry on his legacy for generations. As the founder of the eponymous pitches, Joe Pat lived his whole life appreciating even the smallest things, with even some of the largest things – the meticulously prepared football pitches bearing his handiwork – just part of a life lived well by the popular character. However, it was the small things in life that Joe Pat would say made him happy, with going to church and spending time with his family amongst his favourite uses of precious time.