Sweeney, Paddy
October 10, 2013The very popular Killanin clubman died last Thursday night after a tragic accident while working at his home place a little earlier that evening. The funeral, which had a very large attendance, took place on Monday after Requiem Mass at Killanin Church.
Paddy, a former club player, referee, long-serving West Board officer and a selector and mentor for various county teams over the past thirty years, was very well liked and respected by all who knew him in sport and in his daily life. He was always very busy but never in bad form; he lived life with a smile and a good word for everybody he met. There were few who walked the corridors of GAA power more likeable than Paddy and when the shocking news broke on Thursday night it was very difficult, nearly impossible, to believe it.
County Football Committee chairman Tadhg O'Conghaile paid tribute to "one of Galway's best ever servants," adding: "I was always very glad to have Paddy serve as vice-chairman with me because I knew him so well over the years and i knew the high regard he was held in everywhere. There was no job he wouldn't' do for the sake of Galway football, just as he'd dedicated a big part of his life to the Killanin club and to the West Board. He was great fun to be with, and that was an important part of his personality.
"We in Galway football extend our sympathy and support to Mrs Kathleen Sweeney, her daughters Louise and Rachel, sons Patrick and Cathal, his sister Margaret and brother Pete and the extended family, and to all his GAA friends," Tadhg O'Congaile added
Patrick and Cathal are very talented young footballers and their proud dad was their No1 supporter.
In the same week, the two legendary Galway goalkeepers of sixty years ago, hurler Sean Duggan and footballer Jack Mangan, were laid to eternal rest.
Sean, from College Road, Galway city, was one month short of his 91st birthday.
Jack, from Bishop Street, Tuam, was 86; he had lived in England since 1959 in Wolverhampton since 1961.
Sean Duggan and Galway born Tony Reddin, who became a Tipperary hero after moving to work and live in Lorrha, were regarded as two of the greatest ever hurling goalkeepers. Tony, now 93, attended Sean Duggan's funeral and several onlookers wept when they saw Tony Reddin embrace Sean Duggan's brother James, himself also a Liam Mellows and Galway hurling hero of the 1950s.
Sean played championship hurling for Galway form 1943 to 19563, inclusive; he won Railway Cup, National League and Oireachtas medals; he played in the infamous All-Ireland final of 1953, against Christy Ring and Cork; and with his beloved Liam Mellows he won two County Senior Championship medals.
He was greatly respected and admired. In Galway city, especially, he was regarded as a real personality and everybody who knew him was thrilled when he received two major honours in recent years - an Honorary Degree, along with his brother James, at NUI Galway in 2008, and Sean later had the new Galway Coach Station formally named after him. He was delighted to be given such very important civic recognition.
Tuam Herald, October 10th 2013 Tweet
