Carr, Paddy
January 01, 2007
The late Paddy Carr
2006 ended on a sad note for the London GAA community with the death of Paddy Carr on December 15th.
Aged 69 Paddy died while undergoing an operation at the Wellington Hospital in St John's Wood.
A well-known and popular figure among London's GAA fraternity for over five decades Paddy - apart from his prowess as a hurler during his younger days - was also a successful coach with St Gabriel's, Glen Rovers and Bros Pearse.
He also coached the Pearses' camogie team to unrivalled success for many years including the 2006 Championship.
The Galway man was also a former trainer of the London hurling team at one time and was one of the initiators of the London Masters teams less than a decade ago.
However Paddy Carr will also be remembered for being one of the game's greatest benefactors and supporter of several GAA causes.
A native of Clave, near Clarenbridge, Paddy had lived in London since 1955.
Throughout a successful career in the construction industry with a number of different companies, the always congenial Paddy devoted most of his spare time to the promotion of Gaelic Games across the capital.
As a player, Paddy enjoyed tremendous success both at club level including four senior titles with Bros Pearse and six titles with St Gabriel's whom he joined a year after their foundation in 1962.
He also won two All-Ireland junior hurling medals with London in 1959 and 1960.
Friend and former clubmate Ambrose Gordan said: "Paddy was a tremendously skillful hurler renowned for his wristy and stylish stick-work.
"A marvellous and intelligent reader of the game he made a huge contribution to the game as a player until his retirement in 1986".
Paddy Carr is survived by his partner Anna O'Hanlon, son Gary and brothers Billy and Michael.
The Irish Community in London is a poorer place for his passing.
Ar Dheis De go raibh a anam.
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