Pádraic Mac Coitir ✒ shares his thoughts on learning of the death of a neighbour at the start of the month. 

Pádraic Mac Coitir
with Leslie McCrory
  
I've lived most of my life in Lenadoon and have met many men and women but unfortunately as I get older a lot of those people are now dead.

I got word from a friend yesterday telling me his cousin, Leslie McCrory, died in the early hours. I've known Leslie to see for years but it was only 5 or 6 years ago we got talking and not just saying hello to each other.

I was walking down the Suffolk Road one fine morning when I noticed Leslie walking slowly up so I crossed the road and asked if he was ok. He said he was but because that part of the road is steep he was finding it a bit hard. He was going to the shop so I offered to get his messages but he thanked me and said he'd make it no matter how long it took.

A week or two later I saw him in the Donegal Celtic social club and nodded over to him. A few minutes later one of the barmen came over with a pint and said Leslie bought it. I went over and thanked him and from that day on very we would often talk when we met in the club or on the street. He lived in Suffolk Court, which us locals always refer to as The Suffolk cul-de-sac.

Although I wouldn't claim to have known Leslie well I always got on well with him and at times he even made an oul grump like me laugh. In more recent years his health had started to get worse but he never complained. I met his son, Martin, this morning and he told me Leslie was conscious right to the end and he said it meant a lot to him and the rest of the family. No doubt he will be sadly missed by his family, neighbours and friends in the Donegal Celtic club.

Padraic Mac Coitir is a former republican
prisoner and current political activist.

Leslie McCrory

Pádraic Mac Coitir ✒ shares his thoughts on learning of the death of a neighbour at the start of the month. 

Pádraic Mac Coitir
with Leslie McCrory
  
I've lived most of my life in Lenadoon and have met many men and women but unfortunately as I get older a lot of those people are now dead.

I got word from a friend yesterday telling me his cousin, Leslie McCrory, died in the early hours. I've known Leslie to see for years but it was only 5 or 6 years ago we got talking and not just saying hello to each other.

I was walking down the Suffolk Road one fine morning when I noticed Leslie walking slowly up so I crossed the road and asked if he was ok. He said he was but because that part of the road is steep he was finding it a bit hard. He was going to the shop so I offered to get his messages but he thanked me and said he'd make it no matter how long it took.

A week or two later I saw him in the Donegal Celtic social club and nodded over to him. A few minutes later one of the barmen came over with a pint and said Leslie bought it. I went over and thanked him and from that day on very we would often talk when we met in the club or on the street. He lived in Suffolk Court, which us locals always refer to as The Suffolk cul-de-sac.

Although I wouldn't claim to have known Leslie well I always got on well with him and at times he even made an oul grump like me laugh. In more recent years his health had started to get worse but he never complained. I met his son, Martin, this morning and he told me Leslie was conscious right to the end and he said it meant a lot to him and the rest of the family. No doubt he will be sadly missed by his family, neighbours and friends in the Donegal Celtic club.

Padraic Mac Coitir is a former republican
prisoner and current political activist.

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