A beloved dad and grandfather was given a lavish send-off following his death aged 41.
Traffic was stopped as hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of Patrick 'Paddy' Sharp in Stockport on Wednesday morning. Paddy, a popular member of Manchester's travelling community, died suddenly last month, leaving six daughters and three grandchildren.
No detail was spared as hundreds of friends and family, including My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty, gathered at Our Lady and the Apostles Church. They paid tribute to Paddy, a proud member of a large Irish Traveller family.
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A flat bed truck displaying several large floral tributes, including six hearts for each of his six daughters, was parked opposite the church. Other tributes included a flowers arranged in the shape of the scrap metal worker's truck, while his daughters wore hoodies with a picture of Paddy on the front underneath the words 'Daddy we love you rest in peace'.
Following a service led by Fr Martin Onuoha, Paddy's coffin was carried out of the church by family, including wife Bridget and brother and best friend Alan, as Tina Turner's Simply the Best played. The coffin was then placed in a glass carriage pulled by six white horses, where it was blessed by Fr Onuoha.
To cheers a plane then flew overhead leaving behind a smoke trail in the colours of the Irish flag. Paddy's death was the second tragedy to hit the family in recent times. In September 2020 his younger brother Tommy, 29, died in a car crash in Salford alongside his friend Paddy Connors, 36.
Tommy's funeral was also held at Our Lady and the Apostles. Paddy grew up on the travellers camp at Dantzic Street in Manchester. He lived with his family off Oldham Road in Miles Platting and also had a house in Accrington.
The eldest of 10 siblings, Paddy is survived by Bridget, his wife of 24 years, and their six daughters Kathleen, Savannah, Janet, Bridgeyann, Mary and Angel. Following the service the interment took place at Highfield Cemetery in Romiley.
