Popular east Cavan hotelier, and businessman laid to rest

It was with deep regret and sadness that the people of Ballyjamesduff and Bailieboro heard of the recent sudden passing of Peter Shaffrey.

Peter was born in Bailieboro in 1934, the youngest of eight children. His father Pat, who owned and ran Shaffrey’s Commercial Hotel died when Peter was just 14 and he went to work in Roscommon in a general store. Shortly after that, he moved to Carrigart in Donegal to learn the hotel trade.

At 18, he returned to help run the family hotel in Bailieborough with his mother Mary. Some 10 years later, he met Maura Whelan and they married in 1964. Peter and Maura had four children – Aisling, Donnough and twins Peter and Ciara.

At this time Peter also worked as a freelance reporter and was actually responsible for the very first story on RTE television. After the station was blessed, the first programme was the news and the first item on the news was a colour piece about the first snowfall in the country that winter in Baileboro!

Always a keen sports man, Peter played football with the local Shamrocks and was in goals for them in the 1956 senior county final when, alas, they were defeated by Cornafean by four points. His brother Paddy played at full forward on the same team.

Shortly after he married Maura, the couple bought the Percy French Arms in Ballyjamesduff in 1964. Together they turned this once quiet hotel into a thriving business making it one of the best known hotels and restaurants in the region.

Embedded in the community, Peter helped set up a Tidy Towns committee and following a great effort by the whole community Ballyjamesduff won the overall tidy towns award in 1966 and again in 1967. In addition, The Percy French Arms Hotel won an award as the tidiest building/premises. This really put the town and its hotel on the map.

Community activist

Peter got involved and became a driving force in a number of other community activities, playing a central role in the ‘Frolics’ as a producer, script writer and actor in various comedy sketches. There was not much going on in Ballyjamesduff at the time in which Peter was not involved.

A very active member and supporter of Castlerahan GAA club, Peter was present in Breffni Park in 2018 and 2019 to witness the club’s great achievement - winning back-to-back Senior Championships. In addition, Peter was involved in the local tennis club and helped set up the first soccer club in the town. Through Connie Lynch and others they organised the first Jimmy McGee All Stars game, which took place in Ballyjamesduff.

The Percy French Arms was responsible for attracting large numbers of fisherman and shooting enthusiasts to the area. These really were wonderful times.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Maura became sick in September 1973, passing away in November of that year at the very young age of 32 years. So began a difficult time for Peter and his four young children as Maura was the driving force of their family in so many ways. Her loss was heart breaking for them. Peter was very strong in accepting the misfortunes that life can sometimes throw up, and always faced those troubles with fortitude and stoicism and tried to focus on the areas of his life to be grateful for.

Peter was very fortunate to find love again when he married Lorna Gilsenan in 1976. Peter and Lorna had two children, Cian and Aine. They were happily married for 44 years and the strength of their bond enabled them to raise a family of six children, while forging a new path in Dublin.

Peter sold the hotel in Ballyjamesduff in 1979 and moved to Kenilworth Square in Dublin where he ran O’Brien’s Pub on Leeson Street and the Stag’s Head in the city centre. Lorna’s focus on the family enabled Peter the time needed to build a successful business. Even with the unsociable hours that come with the pub business, Peter was always there for important family and childhood events.

He fostered and nurtured a sense of community in those pubs where literary giants like Seamus Heaney and Brian Friel felt as comfortable as the porters from the Burlington Hotel. Stars like Willie Joe Padden would rub shoulders and compare mullets with the likes of Ian Botham.

They were, above all, Cavan pubs, a place away from home for Cavan people where many a young person and student got a start or a part-time job. He was so proud of that and loved that he was able to help, guide and touch so many young lives.

Family man

At the heart of it all, Peter Shaffrey was a family man and it was this focus that ultimately directed his path in life.

He retired from the pub trade in 1996 and went on to enjoy a wonderful retirement with Lorna, his 15 loving grandchildren and his many stray dogs – most famously Mya. He also became immersed in the lives of all his grandchildren and their activities.

Peter had many varied interests in retirement including tennis and bridge. He was an avid reader and loved crosswords. He ran a number of marathons including Dublin and New York in the same week. In later years he became a permanent fixture walking his dogs along the seafront and around the village of Sandymount.

Peter had a true gift for storytelling and any gathering would invariably lead to him recounting his life’s tales while keeping all riveted in the process, however, he was always quick to warn that any interruptions would run the risk of him starting the story again!

He truly was one of a kind and will be missed by all who knew him.

Peter Shaffrey passed away peacefully on December 10 last with Lorna as ever by his side and surrounded by their six children. They sang together a loving and poignant rendition of ‘Come Back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff’ as he slipped away.

In keeping with the huge generosity for which he was known, Peter has donated his body to medical science – as always, thinking of others.

Peter is survived by his wife Lorna; children Aisling, Donnough, Peter, Ciara, Cian and Aine, 15 grandchildren, his dear brother Paddy, in laws, nephews and nieces, and a wide circle of friends. Deepest sympathy is extended to all.