The greater part of his heart was in Corca Dhuibhne

The death of Padraig Tyers, The Ridgeway, Bishopstown, Cork, on Friday February 19th, bought to an end a long life of achievement in the development of the Irish Language and culture.
As the large crowd attending his funeral Mass at Dennehy's Cross Church in Cork heard, "the greater part of his heart was in Graigue in Corca Dhuibhne", where he and Betty had a bungalow overlooking Clogher Strand and the brooding Inis Tuaisceart.
An tOllamh Sean O Coilean (UCC) explained hoe Padraig was a man who could talk to anyone and was not averse to employing this skill, calling to the doors of houses, tapping and opening them asking "an bhuil einne istigh?"
Padraig was in fact a Waterford man, brought up between Clonmel and Mount Melleray at Touraneena, being educated at Mount Melleray. He then went to UCC where he won both Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups in 1947. The day that UCC beat UCG in the Fitzgibbon final was a very sad one for Paddy, However, for his father died.
But it was also while training down at the Quarry that he met Elizabeth Irwin who was training with the camogie team. The development of their relationship into a long and loving marriage probably created a unique treble in any family for Betty won an Ashbourne Cup medal that year as well.
Ten years later, Paddy lined out in goal for the Cork football team that faced Galway in the All-Ireland final. UCG had failed to raise a flag in the Fitzgibbon final but Frank Stockwell and Sean Pursell extracted adequate revenge as Galway ran out the winner.
He won a Cork County Football Championship with Lees in 1955 and minded the goal for the county team from 1953 to '56. He had the consolation of winning a Railway Cup medal with Munster in 1956.
He spent nine years as a teacher, a further eight with Geal Linn before joining UCC in 1964, remaining until his retirement in 1988 combining the roles of director of audio-visual services and stiurthtoir na Gaeilge Labharta.
He developed an early interest in the audio-visual field being involved in the making of a film on the skills of Gaelic football and hurling featuring Christy Ring while at Geal Linn.
He leaves behind a large volume of works of photography from Corca Dhuibhne, folklore, literature and biography which he either wrote, complied or edited. The last of the photographic records, Ceamara Chorca Dhuibhne, was published in 2007 and he completed the work despite being in failing health.
During his time at UCC, Bord na Gaeilge was established at the university and Padraig pushed through the acquisition of an Bru na Graige close to his house where generations of Irish students spent memorable weeks during the summer time. A degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him by UCC in June 2006.
As his health problems increased, he was retired to Bishopscourt Residential Home for the final phase of his life.
Padraig is mourned by his wife Betty, daughter Nuala (Tramore), sons Colm, Brian and Liam, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, son-in-law, daughters-in-law and brothers-in-law, relatives and friends.
Large crowds attended his removal to O'Connor's Funeral Home at Northgate Bridge, his funeral at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Dennehy's Cross and burial at St. Finbarr's Cemetery.

Courtesy of Kerry's Eye
4th March, 2010 Tweet

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