Fr Paddy's Diamond Jubilee

 

                                            D Crokes’ Vice-Presidents Fr Paddy & Fr Tom

Comhghairdeas to Fr Paddy (so well known that his surname is rarely used) on the celebration of his Diamond Jubilee and his 60 years as a priest.

One of our esteemed vice-presidents, he has served Dr Crokes as a former star player and since he returned to Killarney he has been one of our most ardent supporters for all games and for all age groups. You couldn’t miss him with the black and amber flag flying permanently on his car window..

He has the rare distinction of winning Leinster senior colleges medals with Knockbeg College in both hurling and in football. Do we know of anyone else who has achieved that double?

He was equally proficient in hurling and in football. He was a star player on the Killarney team that won the Kerry minor hurling c’ship 1950, 1951, 1952. He progressed to the Killarney senior hurlers in the 1956 Kerry SHC. They had 3 epic games versus Kilgarvan. As a seminarian himself and Fr Brosnan were unavailable for the 3^rd game. Had they been there the result would most likely have been different, but the Lord called and Paddy answered that call to a vineyard far away. Kilgarvan went on to win the county title.

He won a Munster Junior football medal with Kerry along with fellow Dr Croke players, President Jackie Looney and the late Michael O‘Connor. He was also a member of the Dick Fitzgeralds’ minor  team , that won  the 1951 Kerry MFC completed the Kerry minor double football and hurling.

He spent 40 years of his ministry in Alabama. Why Alabama?

Fr Frank Wade, a fellow Dr Crokes’ member (uncle of Johnny &Paddy McGuire ,Bricín) was leading the parish and  Fr Paddy answered the call to the Lord’s vineyard. However,he was always interested on how the Crokes were getting on, back home in Killarney. Mobile phones didn’t exist, but he tick- tacked with Fr Seán Quinlan. The noted scholar & historian from Mangerton View ministered in another state and they kept up -to -date with the Crokes’ results back home.

After spending 40 years as a priest in Alabama Fr Paddy retired home to Killarney, but he still continued to help out the priests in the parish. He got immersed in his home club as a supporter and he became the catalyst for promoting the Wednesday night card games of 31 in the clubhouse. It provided a wonderful and much appreciated social occasion for 50-60 members and friends, from autumn right through to the end of spring.

It was an unqualified success and the rules were….. It was the Fr Paddy show and he reigned suprem.

          and I have brought along a special hamper as an extra prize tonight.

Allowing for generous cash prizes he still handed over in excess of 5,000 euro annually to the club coffers. Covid -19 brought that to a standstill, but when normal service will be restored the Fr Paddy’s card game will recommence.

His retirement couldn’t have been more  timely. Gone were the memories of near misses to lift the Kerry SFC title until Fr Paddy came home. He was an enthusiastic supporter for that unprecedented glorious era when Dr Crokes reigned supreme. They lead the way in the role of honour in the Kingdom with 13 Kerry SFC titles, winning 9 between 2000 and 2018, not forgetting the second All -Ireland Club title in 2017.

As Eamonn Kelly said “They (priests) have the power”. Fr Paddy doesn’t disagree.

His father was the late Dr Paddy O’Donoghue, who donated the Cup of the same name for the most prestigious senior football competition in the East Kerry Board.

Guimíd rath Dé agus sláinte ar Fr Paddy. Ad multos annos.

A  Croke go smior.

Na Crócaigh  Abú.