Patrick Holland

Patrick Holland was born 5 January 1930 at Foulkscourt, Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland to Jeremiah and Mary (Hughes) Holland.  Patrick was only nine years old when his father died.  During Jeremiah's short illness his wife Mary had the help of her sister-in-law Kate Holland and many hired men to work the farm and that continued after his death.      

His mother saw that Patrick attended school at St. Kieran's in Kilkenny. In 1943 went to Limerick College.  After finishing college he decided to go into the seminary but being an only son was told he had to go home to care for his mother.  Patrick was sadden by not being able to become a priest but went back home to care for his mother and work the farm. 

One can tell when meeting this kind loving soul he would have been a grand priest.  Patrick never married. He lived at Foulkscourt in the old house until he built a new house in 1977. He was able to obtain what he called a grant for 1000 pounds to build the house.

He continued to farm until his health became bad in 1994.  In 1998 he had a triple bypass. Tom Rochford took over the farming and to this day still tends the land.      

Patrick is a very charming gentle man who enjoys gardening, working at projects like having a new stone wall built at the road across the front of the property. 
This past March (2005) he was busy; working putting in new landscaping around the house and had planted a new hedge.  Behind the new house out toward the old house are very tall beautiful trees that his father planted. 

 In memory of his mother Pat donated an organ to St. Kieran's Catholic Church in Johnstown.     

Pat is not much for letter writing but each year at Christmas sends off a letter to Kevin Holland in New Zealand. Kate Nichtern keeps in touch with him with telephone calls and he seems to enjoy the chats.      

The Nichtern's have been blessed to have visited Patrick each of their visits to Foulkscourt. He has shared/answering in his "reserved manner" the many questions Kate Nichtern has asked about the Holland family. 
2005 written

 

2021 October

Patrick Holland went home to our dear Lord on 18 October 2021 after suffering for many years of a bad arthritic condition. 

He had turned 91 in January of this year.

Bless dear Patrick for a long well lived life.