Buggy, Paddy
May 24, 2013As I travelled the county during my term as GAA President I was asked on numerous occasions 'how is Paddy Buggy'?
Like every GAA President before him and right up to the present day, Paddy travelled to every comer of Ireland plus many locations abroad and made great friends with individuals in numerous clubs and parishes.
His name is etched on a plaque outside many GAA grounds and club houses, a reminder to everyone of a special occasion during his Presidency for the local club.
For every GAA person roots are important. So it was with Paddy Buggy who was a proud son of Slieverue. His passion for Slieverue and Kilkenny never wavered throughout his life.
While Paddy was born and raised in Slieverue his parents came from my own parish, Conahy. Paddy's late mother lived next door to my own home and he was a frequent visitor to our house in Suttonsrath.
Little was I to know as we chatted during his many visits that we would follow a similar path in GAA administration and also share the immense joy of winning an All-Ireland medal with our native county.
Greatest honour
I have no doubt that while Paddy was thrilled to win his All-Ireland medal in 1957 his greatest honour was the winning of county junior and senior hurling titles with Slieverue in 1950 and 1954.
Paddy Buggy commenced his inter-county career with Kilkenny in the late forties, making his championship debut in 1949 and winning his first provincial title in 1950. Tipperary and Wexford were the dominant sides for much of the fifties, but Kilkenny came to the fore in the latter part of the decade. I can only imagine how Paddy felt playing against Waterford on huriing's biggest day in 1957. Not alone did he live right on the border, but his second level school days and I imagine most of his socialising was spent in Waterford.
Mount Sion was always very close to Paddy's heart. It was where he received his secondary education and his time there left an indelible imprint on the then young Kilkenny man. Paddy achieved Harty Cup success with Mount Sion and he retained a fond relationship with the Christian Brothers throughout his life. He was a lifelong friend of former GAA President Pat Fanning, who also had strong Mount Sion connections. In the 1957 final Waterford led by six points with fifteen minutes remaining, but two goals from Kilkenny edged the Cats ahead by a single point at the finish. Winning a Celtic Cross fulfilled a lifetime dream for Paddy Buggy.
Two years later in 1959 the tables were turned when Waterford won the All-Ireland final at Kilkenny's expense following a replay. This was undoubtedly a disappointing day for Paddy, but perhaps in later years he may
have appreciated that the great Waterford hurlers of his own era also deserved to win a Celtic Cross.
It may not be well known but Paddy was also an outstanding referee at club and inter-county levels. One of his major games was the 1971 All-Ireland under 21 Hurling Final between Wexford and Cork which was won by the Rebels. Every GAA administrator starts out with the local club and Paddy's tenure as Secretary, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer of Slieverue set him up well for later challenges.
Next stop was the Southern Board - a great training ground in those days for higher office. He was later to serve a one-year term as Kilkenny County Board Chairman in the early nineties. Paddy was Chairman of the Leinster Council GAA from 1978 to 1981 in Killarneyhe was elected to the highest office in the Association and had the great honour of being President during the centenary of the GAA.
He officially took over as GAA President at the Congress which was held in St. Kieran's College in 1982 While this was an exciting time to be GAA President the demands on Paddy's time were immense. It is worth remembering that he continued to work with Kilkenny County Council during his presidency and while he was afforded some flexibility he regularly headed off in the afternoon to return in the early hours of the following morning.
Centenary year was a defining period for the GAA as the Association set many challenging targets for County Board and Clubs. The leadership which Paddy Buggy displayed during this time was significant and saw the GAA emerge a much stronger organisation following a year of much celebration at home and abroad.
When the huge honour of being elected GAA President was bestowed on me in 1985 in Croke Park, one of the first people to congratulate me was Paddy Buggy. His embrace was warm and sincere. 'Your rather would have been proud of you' were words that brought a tear to my eyes. Paddy was a good friend of my late father.
Although Paddy had not been well for some time, his death last week was a very sad loss to everyone and most of all, to his beloved wife Peggy, his sons and daughter and his extended family.
I will remember Paddy as a good friend and mentor. He was a man imbued with an outstanding memory of people and events and a superb orator, not just on GAA matters but on any subject.
Go ndeana Dia trocaire ar a
anam.
Coutesy of The Kilkenny People Tweet
