Irish music industry pays respects to Aslan keyboard player Pat Fitzpatrick at funeral
The coffin of musician Pat Fitzpatrick is taken into the chapel at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
Somthing Happens singer Tom Dunne at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
Shay Healy at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
The wife of musician Pat Fitzpatrick, Rebecca Smith at his funeral at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
Composer Bill Wheelan at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
Aslan's Christy Dignam at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
Kieth Donald from Moving Hearts at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
Singer Mary Coughlan at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
David Agnew at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
Former member of The Dubliners Eamon Campbell at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
Impressario Pat Egan at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
Shay Healy at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
The coffin of musician Pat Fitzpatrick is taken into the chapel at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
Some of the biggest names in the Irish music industry paid their respects to the late Aslan keyboard player, Pat Fitzpatrick.
'Fitzy' died earlier this week following a battle with liver cancer.
Singer Mary Coughlan, Composer Bill Whelan and Aslan's Christy Dignam were among the mourners at Mount Jerome crematorium in south Co Dublin this morning.
Fitzy (60) was originally from Belfast and trained at the Royal College of Music in London before playing with Katmandu and Van Morrison, The Blades and Something Happens.
Aslan's Christy Dignam at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
He also became musical director of The Late Late Show.
Speaking to the Irish Sun, Aslan frontman Christy Dignam paid tribute to his friend, "Fitzy has left a huge hole behind in our lives both as a musician and a friend.
Singer Mary Coughlan at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
“It wasn’t just music, Fitzy was a lovely human being. He played with such feeling.”
Aslan also took to their Facebook page to share their sadness at Fitzy's passing.
The wife of musician Pat Fitzpatrick, Rebecca Smith at his funeral at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
"We are saddened to let you all know that our good friend and keyboard player Patrick Fitzpatrick (Fitzy) passed away peacefully this morning," they wrote.
"Pat played keyboards with us for over 20 years and was there with us on all the gigs and recordings that we did.
Aslan's Christy Dignam at the funeral of Pat Fitzpatrick at Mt. Jerome crematorium. Photo: Tony Gavin 22/4/2107
"He was not ours alone, he played with Something Happens, The Blades, Van Morrison and lots of other great bands but we liked to think of him as ours."
The band went on to explain that Pat was "rocking the roof off the Cork Opera House" just 11 days ago and "stayed up for drinks" with his fellow band members and his wife.
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