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.
There’s always a notable stretch in the evenings when the anniversary of Bertie Fisher rolls around.
Last Thursday week marked twenty years since the death of the rallying legend who enthralled the masses that lined the ditches, fields and side roads all over. During a 32-year career – his first event was as a navigator the Erne Safari Rally – the sporting icon notched up 43 victories. His titanic tussles with Austin McHale have become the stuff of rally folklore.
On Sunday, January 21st, 2001, the Fisher family were a short distance from home when their helicopter crashed near the Fermanagh village of Monea. Bertie’s son, Mark (27) and daughter Emma (25) were killed instantly. The following day, the life-support machine keeping Bertie alive at the Erne Hospital was turned off. His wife, Gladys and other son, Roy, who both suffered serious injuries, survived. It was a tragedy that shook the world of sport. Ditto the world of business.