It is with immense sadness that the club has learned of the passing of Ritchie Hatch. Ritchie was well known to everyone who passed through the Lakelands gates, where they encountered the best dressed gateman in rugby!
Ritchie joined Terenure in 2001, when he volunteered his boundless energy to help his great friend Paul Mackay, who was President that year. Paul and Ritchie met playing for Clontarf 3rd Bs, with Ritchie a dashing full back with a tendency to tackle hard and high!
After many years running the club shop, Ritchie joined Paddy Fitzmaurice on the gate on match days. The duo formed a fantastic team, welcoming members and guests alike with good humour and great wit.
His support for our teams was legendary, travelling to matches the length and breadth of the country, and as far as Argentina to cheer on the Nure, and sample the local wines.
Ritchie was originally from Malahide, and worked in Clery’s for many years before going out on his own in the furniture trade, supplying beds and mattresses, and always looked after his Nure friends.
He is survived by his loving wife Adrienne, and children Ian, Rónán and Olwyn. He will always be remembered as someone who loved life to its fullest, and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.
Our loss is Heaven’s gain, as he joins St Peter at the Pearly Gates. Make sure to have your entrance fee ready!
A Message From The Hatch Family
“Thank you all for the support,messages of hope,condolences,tributes and funny stories over the last number of weeks. My brother and sister and dad’s grandkids all live overseas and could not return home because of Covid restrictions – I have forward all your messages to them.
I cannot express how much nourishment dad’s grandkids have gotten from them as they experience the death of a loved one for the first time and learn how to navigate through it. They are aware of dad’s work but not the ‘never a hitch with Hatch’ side of it – they are so full of pride that their grandad has such impact on other people’s life as well as their own ,that he was liked,loved and well respected. This has helped so much and my dad would be so thankful and honoured your kind words have embraced his grandkids.
This will never be forgotten by our family.”
