The death has taken place of Pat Donaghy, one of the most successful businessmen in the story of modern Irish immigration to America. He was 83
Donaghy, a native of County Tyrone, was a principal figure in the construction company Structure Tone which operates across the U.S. as well as in Ireland.
Donaghy was also a front line supporter of Sinn Féin and a significant financial contributor to Friends of Sinn Féin in the U.S.
And FOSF paid tribute to its longtime benefactor in statement issued by its president, Mark Guilfoyle.
The statement said: "Pat will be remembered by his family as a loving husband, father and grandfather. His friends will remember him for his loyalty, support and generosity.
"We in Friends of Sinn Féin will remember him as a proud Irish patriot who stood on the side of peace, justice and Irish Unity. We offer our condolences to his family and all of those who were lucky to know him.”
Gerry Adams, in a tribute, stated: "I got the sad news that Pat Donaghy has died. Originally from Tremoge near Carrickmore in County Tyrone, Pat emigrated to the United States in the 1950s.
"Like many others he went looking for work because work was sparse for northern nationalists in unionism’s apartheid northern state. He was in his late teens. His older sister Nora sponsored him. Pat was the sixth of fifteen children. Phyllis, Peggy and Bella along with Nora had already emigrated. Other siblings born after Pat and the older sisters also emigrated.
I got to know Pat through his work for Ireland, his loyalty to the Irish cause and his native county of Tyrone, and his commitment to the Friends of Sinn Féin.
"Pat by dint of hard work did well in the USA. He founded Structure Tone with Lewis R. Marino in 1971. It is now one of the biggest construction companies in the USA.
"Pat Donaghy threw his considerable influence and good will into the peace process and behind Sinn Féin’s peace strategy. He became one of The Friends of Sinn Fein’s main supporters when that important group was established in 1995 and was part of the small group of like-minded patriots who inaugurated the annual Friends of Sinn Féin Dinner in New York in 1995.
"I always found Pat to be a warm friendly and unassuming patriot. Despite his huge success in the construction industry he was grounded in the traditions and generous core values of his parents and his native place. I am honoured to have been his friend and to have enjoyed his company.
"I want to extend my solidarity and condolences to the entire Donaghy family in the USA and Tyrone, especially his wife Mary, his children Brian, Jimmy, John, Ray, Maureen and Eileen. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis."
