Laois community's tribute to man whose dog won tractor in draw

There is sadness in Clough at the death of Patsy Dalton who made headlines in Laois and around the country two years ago after his dog Toby won him a €100,000 John Deere tractor.

The Limerick man wrote down his dog’s name when he entered a raffle to raise money for a community centre in the south Laois village.

Beloved wife, Philomena, said the last thing Patsy said to her was to take care of their dogs, Toby and Tanya. Patsy, aged 74, passed away in Milford after a brave battle with illness for four years.

“Toby was like a person to him. Patsy loved animals - dogs, cats, cattle, ponies, horses. Toby is lonesome after Patsy passed away - he hasn’t settled at all.

“I had to get one of his work coats out of a tractor. Toby was smelling it and slept on it last night. You’d be surprised how a dog misses a person,” said Philomena.

Patsy, from Galbally, had such fond memories of Laois that he asked for the photo above with him and Toby, taken after the tractor win in Laois take by Laois photographer Alf Harvey, to be placed on his coffin. The same photo was also used on his death notice on RIP.ie

A huge number of mourners attended his removal, funeral Mass and burial. They came from New York, Canada, UK and all over Ireland. Members of the Clough Vision Group went down to pay their respects.

Patsy travelled to Clough in 2023 to collect his prize, which was presented by Olga Hyland, Chairperson of the Clough Vision Group. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Patsy Dalton with Toby on the day he was presented with the keys by chairperson Olga Hyland at the presentation of the John Deere tractor valued at €100,000 in 2023. Picture: Alf Harvey

It's understood that when he learned they fell short by €1,500 in their raffle, but Patsy quietly covered the shortfall.

“Patsy was a kind and generous winner,” Ms Hyland told the Leinster Express/ Laois Live.

“We were shocked and saddened to hear of his passing, and we had representatives attend his funeral. It was lovely when he came up to us when he won the raffle, he brought his wife, friends, and his beloved dog Toby. We thought he would come in just for a cup of tea, but they didn’t go home until late.

"It was lovely, we had a great night. Patsy was very supportive of the raffle, and he gave us a great feeling to end it on, he will be sorely missed,” Ms Hyland said.

Mr Dalton bought the ticket at a machinery auction in Portlaoise ahead of the draw on St Patrick’s Day.

It was pure luck that Mr Dalton was there that day as he had previously forgotten the tax book for a jeep he was selling and had to come back again. He bought two raffle tickets for €50 and put down the names of the couple’s beloved pooches Toby and Susie. MORE BELOW PHOTO

Philomena (pictured below accepting flowers from members of the Clough committee in 2023) gave a beautiful eulogy at his funeral Mass, describing Patsy as her rock.

“Patsy will be sadly missed by us all - his family, his pet dogs, his animals. He will be a big loss to his local communities which he always tried to support. 

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“I will miss him. He was my rock. He was a brilliant, brilliant man, his vision, his energy and his easy way of doing things. I loved him so much, 45 years. He was a brilliant friend, worker, husband and a great provider,” said Philomena to warm applause from the congregation at his funeral Mass. 

The Clough Community Vision Committee was established in 2019 to advance the ambition of improving facilities in the south Laois village.