I regret to inform the Mudcat Café that Harry O'Prey, Henry to his oldest friends, whose identity in this forum is given above died on Wednesday 7th August. He contributed with erudition, humour and flashes of irritability to Mudcat, as Annraoi, from November 1998 until Jan 2000, when his cookie expired and he became GUESTAnnraoi. His last contribution was two days before his death.

I met him first in 1959 when we were habitués of the table at the extreme left of the Students' Union Dining Room at Queen's University in Belfast. We've been friends ever since, sharing an interest in Irish music and songs. He was generous with his knowledge. Recently I've been meeting him in Belfast to drink coffee and swap novelties and remembrances.

During the last year, he and his two sons endured the final illness of his wife Marceline. She died of cancer less than three weeks ago. Henry did not have to endure loneliness for long; my thoughts are much with Cormac and Conan.

His funeral takes place tomorrow - Saturday 10th August; Requiem Mass at St Patrick's Church, Donegall Street, Belfast at 11.00 with burial at Ardglass, Co Down, where Marceline lies.

I am sure that his family would appreciate the sympathy of members of this forum:

46 Brookvale Avenue
Belfast
Northern Ireland
BT14 6BW

I personally am much the poorer for his passing. I think that others will feel the same.