Pat Connolly's contribution to folk and traditional music was a truly outstanding one, his association with the performing arts stretching back to the 1960's. Pat's remarkable reputation as a songwriter, musician and international ambassador for the Arts was unsurpassed in Ireland, and his enthusiastic dedication to Downpatrick Folk Music Club as a centre for artistic excellence was selfless and tireless.

The club and a lot of Pat's friends got together with Lunasa and Jim Malcolm to celebrate the life of a man who touched us all with his generosity of spirit and his love of music.

A bloody marvelous night of music and craic was had and I have no doubt but that the spirit of Pat was very much alive in the midst of the music.