According to records Patrick (Patsy) Dillon was born in Listowel although the dates are uncertain. On census records, Patsy maintained that he was born in 1861 however, parish records for Listowel would suggest he was born on 17th March 1857. A baptismal record for Listowel states that a Patritius Dillane was born in 1857 to Johannes Dillane and Margaret McMahon of Listowel; this record agrees with Patsy's first marriage certificate of October 1884 that documents his father as "John" whose trade was as a "Coachman." The marriage certificate dates Patsy's age as 26 which would calculate his birth year as 1858 so it is thought that the birth record for Patritius in 1857 is likely to be his, give or take a year and gives the names of the sponsors as Nicolais O'Halloran and Maria Doyle. This baptismal records gives an insight into his parents that would suggest that they were married, contrary to the baptismal records for the elder siblings Margaret and Bridgett whose records clearly state that they were illegitimate. Interestingly there is no marriage record for the John Dillon and Margaret McMahon in Listowel at any time but there is one for 1887 at Islandavanna on the banks of the Fergus river in county Clare. Although it would have been quite a distance for the couple, John was a coachman so undoubtably would have been accustomed to travelling distances. However, there is a huge time distance between the birth of Patsy and his siblings and the marriage of John and Margaret McMahon in Islandavanna which makes it unlikely although not impossible that the marriage was between the parents of Patsy and his sisters.
Nothing is known about the childhood of Patsy but for his entire and long life he was surrounded by horses. Father John was a coachman when "horse trainer" Patsy married the daughter of a "horse-trainer" Patrick Flynn who is thought to have come from Tralee; this demonstrates their undeniable connection with horses; as the first car imported into Ireland was in 1898 John's career as a coachman would have meant he was a horseman also.
Patsy and Mary Flynn were married in London, their nuptuals being recorded at the register office in the district of Strand on 14th October 1884 in the presence of Caroline Matilda McCarthy and Grace Selina Durham. It was clear that Patsy and Mary were both literate and signed their names on the register with clear and very tidy handwriting. The hand-writing of Patsy is identical to a letter he wrote when his son George was ill during the Great War so confirms his literacy. By the time of the marriage Mary's father had died but John Dillon was still living; it is not known whether their respective mothers were still alive at the time just as it is unknown why they were in London. However, they soon returned to Kerry for the birth of their eldest son Joseph in 1885 at Tralee. In 1887 Mary delivered another boy, Bernard who was followed by a daughter Mary Christina in 1888, Mary Christina did not live to see her second birthday, nor did her younger brother John who was born in 1890. Mary did not deliver another child until 1893 when their son George Bernard was born in April. Sadly, and it is unknown why, but the family were soon to lose their mother Mary who died in the third quarter of 1893 leaving Patsy to bring up the three boys.
Although Patsy appeared to have cared for his sons, he fell foul of the laws of the land and appeared in court in January of 1894 for failing to ensure the inoculation of his infant son George. At the time inoculation against smallpox was mandatory so it is thought that this was the inoculation that Patsy failed to obtain for baby George.
It is acknowledged that Patsy trained some horses at Mount Hawke, Tralee and accepted that he had moderate success with horses; newspaper records of the time mention him occasionally as owning, training and riding. While he was working, he took his sons to the stables at Mount Hawke. Patsy's son Bernard wrote that they were often travelling around the south of Ireland and described himself and his brothers as all being "like centaurs," and always in the saddle. None of this information gives any indication of how the family coped after the death of Mary or how, if they were always out and about with their father, did the boys learn to read and write? Anecdotally, Patsy had high expectations of the boys: His teaching methods have been described as "unorthodox" as he would tie the boys to young horses to ensure they did not fall off. Although Patsy was a horseman through and through, something he passed onto his sons, today his handling would probably be described as cruel to the animal, this being said, he loved his sons and his animals, never failing to obtain a licence for his little black terrier.
Five years after the death of Mary, Patsy married again to Margaret Flahive of Bromore in the county of Kerry who cared for the boys with whom she had a close relationship. They made their home at Tralee.
Again in 1900 Patsy found himself in court but on this occasion as the complainant. A dispute with two of his neighbours resulted in an alleged assault on Patsy; the defendants failed to appear in court and the outcome is unknown.
Despite disturbances, Margaret was welcoming children into the fold just as the eldest two were ready to leave home. Joe left prior to 1901 and Bernard followed him on New Year's Eve 1901, both became apprentice jockey's at the famous Netheravon Stables at Druid's Lodge on Salisbury Plain. Although Mary was born to the couple in 1899 she passed away soon afterwards. In April 1901 John was born, the eldest surviving of the second batch of children. No more girls were born but in 1902 Edward (Ned) was born, 1904 Jeremiah (Darby) was born and finally in 1906 Michael came along. Shortly after this the whole family relocated, making their home at Epsom in Surrey, England. A newly built house was purchased for them by Patsy's son Bernard so that the family could be together.
Bernard said himself that Patsy was very attached to his son's although he was a hard man who often clashed with Bernard in later life. Bernard had many issues which Patsy did not sympathise with and they occasionally resorted to fighting each other and as he aged his behaviour became unpredictable. His wife Margaret was a long-suffering woman of few words who was unable or unwilling to complain about his behaviour. Patsy kept a mare in his back garden at Epsom and if it were cold he would remove the blanket from his own bed in favour of the mare whom he obviously cared deeply about. It is rumoured that he was unhappy that his wife was taller than he was so he sawed her heels from her shoes and on one occasion when he was arguing with his son Bernard it was decided they should settle the matter with a boxing match. Bernard went to collect his gloves, Pasty appeared with one glove and an axe. Fortunately, the pair managed to settle the matter by alternative means but Patsy's conduct might today be considered uncooperative at the least.
Even Patsy's death was unconventional. He had long admired the athletics of the children who jumped on and off the double-decker bus as it was still moving past the Grandstand at Epsom. In his efforts to imitate them he fell and broke his hip dying shortly afterwards.
Patsy is buried at Epsom Cemetary in one of the nine plots his son Bernard purchased, presumably to keep the family together even in death.
