Clancy, Paddy
July 09, 2010The late Paddy Clancy was an entrepreneur, a great community person and a wonderful family man - three great qualities that made Paddy the gentleman he was. Those are the qualities that will be missed by all the people who had the pleasure of knowing him. His recent passing has left a huge void in many people's lives and none more so by his close family unit.
Paddy Clancy was born on July 27, 1929, to May and John Clancy of West Street Callan. He was the third of three boys, the elder Billy who has served as a priest in New Zealand since 1950 the year of ordination and the second brother John who died some time ago in his adopted country Australia.
Paddy attended primary school in Callan and then boarding school at Good Counsel New Ross. He decided to emigrate to New Zealand when his brother Billy was ordained in St. Kieran's College.
Fr. Billy was assigned to the diocese of Wellington where Paddy found work and also played hurling locally. Hurling was Paddy's passion - to say he was an authority on the wonderful game fully describes his knowledge of hurling and when it came to Kilkenny GAA he could describes every score, who scored it and could name the team. Paddy attended his first All-Ireland in 1939, the day World War II broke out, Kilkenny beating Cork by one point the same day. He travelled on Tom Nolan's bus with his father to that momentous game.
Mention any year and Paddy could tell you the All-Ireland winners and the 15 who lined out. He attended Kilkenny games all over the country and when it came near to a league final and most especially an All-Ireland the man with the striking fine head of white hair was ever present in Nowlan Park at training sessions. For all of the four-in-a-row All Irelands Paddy attended the post match celebrations at City West where he loved to meet up with past and present stars of the Kilkenny hurling team.
In 1947 Paddy played with Bennettsbridge and won a minor county title as there was no team in Callan. Also on that team were other Callan lads Paddy Stapleton, Johnny Tobin and Paddy Kilroy, the latter both deceased.
On returning from New Zealand in 1952, Paddy rejoined the John Lockes club and duly won a junior county title the same year. On his return he took over the running of the family shoe business on the Cross where Vaughan's take away is today. In 1962 Paddy saw an opening for knitwear manufacturing and created his "Sherpa" brand which was produced at Tinnamona for over 20 years.
Paddy formed the Kilkenny Crystal Company in 1969 also at Tinnamona. From small beginnings Paddy built an excellent reputation for himself and the crystal and to this day it is renowned throughout Ireland and beyond. Each year Paddy and Kilkenny Crystal sponsored the Thomas Moore schools competition; this was just one event that he became synonymous with within the county and beyond.
Paddy had two great friends from his college days - Kerry men John and Bill O'Gorman - and it was through them that he met and married their sister Kathleen in 1957. His brother-in-laws John and Bill are both priests and serve in the dioceses of Hexham & Newcastle in the North East of England. Kathleen and Paddy first settled over the business on The Cross until 1972 they built a new house at Tinnamona. As well as looking after four children Kathleen also took an active interest in the running of the business.
Outside of business life Paddy dedicated himself to many organisations in the community of Callan - Mount Carmel being his great love. Since its inception in the late 1970's Paddy worked tirelessly for the wonderful centre for the elderly, serving as Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. He travelled far and wide selling tickets for the ongoing fundraising draw which went a big way in keeping the centre updated to the highest standards. Paddy was also involved with the L'Arche community and served on the committee there also.
In the 1950s he served for a time on Callan Golf Club committee. Those were lean times for the club with membership falling, so Paddy and Bill Finn who served as a Bank Manager in Callan helped in bringing in much needed funds for the club. Paddy loved a game of golf but persistent back problems forced him to give it up at an early age.
Kathleen and Paddy were great Christians and devout Catholics and loved to travel to places that had a historical connection with religion. In the late 1980's into the early 1990's they travelled to Medjugorie in what was then known as Yugoslavia four years in a row. When the Civil War broke out there in the mid nineties travel to that part of Europe was restricted so both never travelled there again as circumstances changed. Kathleen's health deteriorated and after a long battle she passed away in 2006. During Kathleen's ill health Paddy would not travel without her but in 2008 and 2009 he returned to Medjugorie. At home he was closely linked with Peace in Christ retreat centre in Kilkenny and organised many retreats there as well as fundraising for the centre.
Paddy was a man of many talents and was also a member of the 'Old Charter Players' back in the 1950's and featured in many plays on the stage of the Parish Hall with people like Sean and Haulie Holden.
Paddy's brother, Fr Billy was unable to travel for the funeral but organised a memorial Mass in his parish in New Zealand which was held a few days after Paddy's burial. There was a big attendance of both priests and parishioners. He plans to visit later this summer. The family commissioned a DVD to be sent to Fr. Billy of the funeral service, the burial at Kilbride and later at the Clancy home where relatives and friends recorded messages for Fr. Billy.
At the funeral mass Fr. Billy was represented by Fr. Feehan from Thurles and the Mass was celebrated by Paddy's brother-in-laws Fathers John and Bill O'Gorman and assisted by Parish priest Fr. Willie Dalton and Fr. Liam Cassin.
When Paddy had a set back with his health, he remained positive and was active up to the time of his passing and was with his family up to his final moments. He will be greatly missed by his children Mary, John, Margaret and Richard as well as by his grandchildren whom he delighted in.
He is also survived by his brother Fr. Billy Clancy; brothers-in-law Fr John and Fr Bill O'Gorman as well as brother-in-law George O'Gorman in Kerry and the many relatives and friends. The family were deeply heartened by the large numbers who visited the family home both before and after the burial and will be forever grateful to everyone. Ar a Dheis De go raibh se.
Courtesy of Kilkenny People
9th July, 2010 Tweet
