'Patrick Pearce' Wgtn Free Ambulance

Wgton Irish Society would like to acknowledge the wonderful contribution made by the son of a decorated hero of the Irish Republic Patrick Feeney, who fought in the 1916 rebellion and the war of independence and came to New Zealand in 1926 after being released from an English jail.

Jack Feeney gave $300k to the Wellington Free Ambulance and now has an ambulance bearing his name Patrick Pearce (Jack) Feeney. His father Patrick (Paddy) Feeney, was a true Irish patriot and named his son after one of the most famous leaders of the 1916 Easter Uprising -  Patrick Pearce who was executed for his role in the rebellion. The fact that we have an ambulance bearing the name of one of the heroes of the 1916 rebellion is of great significance to Wellington Irish.  Jack has also made many other bequests to worthy community organisations including the Kerry Irish Dancers.

Jack was born on 7th September 1937, son of Patrick (Paddy) and Elizabeth Feeney and brother to Patricia and Peter.  Paddy Feeney risked his life to secure the freedom and the independence of Irish people in the 1916 Easter Uprising in Galway and the Irish war of independence between 1919 and 1921. He was a leader and highly decorated IRA commander who emigrated to New Zealand in 1926 after his release from English prisons. He worked tirelessly for the Irish and general community in the greater Wellington region all his life. He was also a member of the Johnsonville Community Board until 1953 when Johnsonville became part of the Wellington City Council. 

Jack was very proud of his Irish heritage. He was a local identity in the Johnsonville area. He never married. Career wise, he did his National Service in the New Zealand Army then embarked on a career in plumbing. He later was a Plumbing Inspector for the Wellington City Council and manged their Refuse Collections team before moving to the Reserve Bank as their Building Manager until his retirement. He did some delivery truck driving for a time. He served the Johnsonville Volunteer Fire Brigade for nearly 30 years, joining on 30 November 1959, becoming Officer In Charge on 7th March 1976 and retired in that position on the 6th of September 1989. He was elected the 8th Honorary Life member of the Brigade in his retirement year. He joined the Johnsonville Club Incorporated on the 30th March 1967, being a regular attender until his passing. Jack passed away aged 86 on the 18th of April 2024 at Malvina Major Rest Home and was interred in the Roman Catholic Section of the Makara Cemetery in accordance with his wishes.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

This history has been supplied by WIS member Peter Burke, author of True to Ireland , and a historian and journalist and Adrian Douglas, JP and executor of Jack's estate.