Critchley, Paddy
February 28, 2003
The Late Paddy Critchley
The death of Paddy Critchley, Dublin Road, Portaoise in St James Hospital, Dublin shocked all who knew this mild mannered devoted family man with a love of all things Irish and in particular gaelic games.
Testament to this was the huge attendance at both the removal and burial of Paddy, who would have celebrated his 77th birthday this coming March.
Paddy had just undergone surgery four days before he passed away, and was making a steady recovery until he unexpectedly took ill on Saturday morning, February 1.
Born and reared at Rath, Ballybrittas, Paddy's family moved to the 'Top Square', Portlaoise when the family was young. He was a former employee of the Worsted Mills, the County Hospital, Tretorn and the County Council, where he worked in the housing maintenance division and was known throughout the county.
He was an outstanding footballer and in the 1851 NFL season, Paddy was top scorer in the country from wing forward. Remarkably he did not make the Laois championship side that year which lost the Leinster final to Meath, scoring just three points.
But reward from gaelic games was great for Paddy. He played with Jamestown, Kilminchey and then Park, where he won senior medals in 1952 and 1953 and played in the senior decider of 1956.
Paddy married Patti Keating from Mountrath in 1957 and they had a family of six - four sons Michael, Pat, Declan and John and two Daughters Carmel and Deirdre. The family resided at St Brigids Place where Paddy got involved in coaching the juveniles and joining the Portlaoise Juvenile committee. The John Cole street Leagues were soon formed with Paddy as a driving force and hurlers and footballers for Clonad, The Heath, Park/Ratheniska, Ballyfin and of course Portlaoise first tasted competitive action in these leagues.
A life long supporter of Portlaoise GAA club, Paddy served as a selector for both the senior hurling and football teams.
Interestingly as his first match as a selector in 1976 with the Portlaoise senior footballers, the team was assembled to play Ballylinan in St Fintans Hospital, but were well short of their fifteen. Paddy searched the town and brought along the likes of Billy Bohane and Jimmy Bergin to 'make up the numbers.' Portlaoise with future stars like Colm Browne and Tom Prendergast in their ranks won out and were undefeated that year, winning the Leinster Club football title. They lost the All-Ireland semi final to a star studded Austin Stacks side by a single point.
While never having played the game competitively apart from inter-firms with Worsted Mills, Paddy loved hurling. His son Pat is known throughout the country as an outstanding hurler and coach , Laois' only hurling All-Star.
Paddy took up his role as a senior hurling selector with Portlaoise in the late Seventies. He often recalled the tale of driving to Johnstown to meet a club official of the Fenians. The Fenians had the Hendersons, Delaneys, Billy Fitzpatrick,of the 1979 All-Ireland winning team, they had five players including the captain Fitzpatrick. They were the outstanding club team of the time. Portlaoise were nobodies. But Paddy tried to convince the Fenians that Portlaoise had potential, and eventually they travelled for a challenge match, played in Pairc ui Mhordha. Portlaoise won by three points and Paddy had no problem linking up with the Kilkenny club for years after as the Town made their preparations to win four consecutive senior hurling titles in the early eighties and complete in a Leinster club final.
Paddy's great ability to tell a yarn meant he was equally good at writing articles which he did for the Leinster Express and countless programmes and GAA Yearbooks. He loved the countryside and during his younger years accompanied Billy Bohane senior, Joe Styles and Tom Duff on Hunting expeditions.
He was a great and devoted family man and to all those who met Paddy, his charming smile endeared himself to everyone.
His family wish to express their sincere thanks to the staff of James Hospital and the Regional Hospital Portlaoise, to the local clergy and the many mourners who attended the funeral and burial and also extended their sympathies at the family home on the Dublin Road. Also to Portlaoise and Park/Ratheniska GAA clubs for providing a guard of honour and to Portlaoise GAA Club for the use of their facilities in providing refreshments for those who attended.
Removal took place on Monday February 3 to SS Peter and Pauls Church and funeral Mass the following day, to the New Cemetery.
To the Critchley family, his wife Patti, Sons, Daughters, grandchildren, sons in law, daughters in law, nephews, nieces, brothers in law, sisters in law, and his many many friends, was extend our deepest sympathies.
Courtesy of the Leinster Express
February 2003
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