Hennessy, Paddy
July 08, 2011
Paddy Hennessy was born in Kyle, Ballykeeffe on 14th July 1925. Son of Christy and Catherine Hennessy, he was one of a family of eight children. He was educated at Desart National School and later in Callan CBS. On leaving school he worked at home on the family farm before starting work with McInches Sawmills in Ballykeeffe. With them he worked in Lucan and Tullamore.
In 1924 he lined out with Killeagh in the Offaly senior hurling semi-final, losing to Tullamore who went on to win the title. With the closure of the sawmills in the 1940s he went to work for his neighbour Billy Fitzpatrick, and later with Alex and Nick Harrison before back injury cut short his farming. In 1969 he joined Molloy's Bakery in Kieran Street where he spent 18 years on the roads of Tipperary, Laois, Carlow and Kilkenny.
Paddy loved sport, particularly hurling and was selector, trainer and mentor with Ballycallan for many years. He was a founder member of the Graigue-Ballycallan Hurling club in 1969,where he helped with other prominent members of both clubs to form a united team in the parish. The decision has paid off with the amount of County Championships won in all grades, since the amalgamation.
Sincere thanks to those people as many efforts had failed previously. Paddy served as a selector when they reached the County Final in 1970. With the emergence of his sons Gerard, Kevin and Milo on to the team in the early/mid seventies he stepped down as selector but he continued to follow the club to the present day. Highlights of his hurling involvement were the winning of the junior (1985) and Intermediate (1987) when his three sons were members of the team. He was extremely proud when Kevin won an All-Ireland Junior Medal in 1986 defeating Limerick in the final in Thurles. Kevin winning 'Man of the Match' added to his enjoyment. Kevin played against Wexford in the Junior Inter-County Championship of 1988 and was captain that year also. He suffered a broken arm in that game and was out for months, but he was back as a sub for the All Ireland final against Tipperary which Kilkenny won in a great game.
Johnny Ronan captained the team is Kevin's absence. The achievement of the club in contesting four county finals in a row (1988-2001) brought great pride and joy to Paddy. Although victory eluded the club in the All Ireland final of 2001 he always felt it was a magnificent achievement. Outside of hurling he followed most other sports particularly soccer, darts, snooker, tennis and football and he had a great knowledge of all the starts of the games. For leisure he liked nothing more than a game of cards. Family meant everything to him. In 1988 he lost the most important person in his life with the death of his wife Margaret. They were married in 1954 in Ballycallan Church. Besides the three boys they had two daughters, Rena and Eileen. They spent many, many a night out dancing at the dance board at Graigue Cross, Threecastles and the marquees around the country.
His daughters Rena and Eileen were very special to him and he got great satisfaction out of the extension of his family; his grandchildren Amy, Sarah, Laura, Shane, Margaret and Katie who brought great joy to his life. As an appreciation of Paddy's work with Graigue Ballycallan club he was made an Honorary Life President, a position he held for many years up to his death. At the removal of his remains a guard of honours of the Graigue Ballycallan Hurling club formed at Ballyfrunk Creamery and walked to Ballycallan Church. Readings at his requiem mass were by son Milo and granddaughter Laura Hennessy. Prayers of the faithful were read by his son Kevin while the offertory gifts were brought to the altar by his grandchildren Amy, Sarah, Margaret and Katie. The gifts included a deck of cards and a hurley. Sincere sympathies to his sons Gerard, dKevin, and Milo, daughters Rena and Eileen, brother Dick, daughter-in-law Sadie, sons-in-law Mikey Maher and Jimmy Lennon, grand-children Amy, Sarah, Laura, Shane, Margaret and Katie and extended relatives and friends. May he rest in peace.
- Courtesy of the Kilkenny People, 8th July 2011
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