Kennedy, Paddy
May 04, 2011The Chairman of the Sligo County Board, Cyril Feehily, had led tributes to former Tourlestrane and Sligo fooballers Paddy Kennedy, Aclare, stating that he wore the county colours with distinction and had been a key player for his beloved club.
Paddy passed away peacefully at North West Hospice, The Mall on Tuesday, April 12th, aged 84.
A native of Aclare, he was educated at Clastlerock National School. He began his career in the former Tighe's Bakery, High Street, as a shop boy. From there he went to McCranns Wholesalers, also in High Street, where he worked as a rep on the road. Subsequently, Paddy and his late brother Richard began their own wholesale business , Kennedy's of Aclare which brought '7UP' to the West and sold for introducing the 'iceburger'. Throughout the 50s and 60s Paddy covered Sligo and North Donegal while Richard travelled in the Galway and Mayo area. The business continued up to 1970 when they sold the company and Paddy took up farming in Aclare.
A strong loyalty to his community was one of the hallmarks of Paddy's life working conscientiously to establish and support local business. He and his brother Richard set up the former Aclare mart, which ran successfully for 20 years and he was also involved with the Aclare Development Council. He had been involved in the development of the original community centre in Kilmactigue and its extension in the 1970s.
Paddy married Teresa Durkin in 1963 and the couple had two sons, Richard and Fintan, and two daughters, Mari and Linda.
GAA and sport was Paddy's great passion. He was an accomplished defender and usually played at full-back for both his club Tourlestrane and his county. He played minor football for Sligo in the 1940s and went on to play for the seniors in the 50s. He won a Connacht junior championship medal with Sligo in 1956 when they defeated Mayo in the final. They were subsequently beaten by Kildare in the All-Ireland semi-final that year.
He won two senior championship medals with a team amalgamated with Tubbercurry in the early 1950s and in 1955 Tourlestrane were beaten by Tubbercurry in the final. Tourlestrane gained sweet revenge in 1956 when they defeated Tubbercurry to win the Owen B. Hunt for the first time in the club's history with Paddy at full back.
His two sons, Fintan- who is PRO with Tourlestrane- and Richard - coaching officer with the club- followed in their father's illustrious footsteps by winning senior championship medals with Tourlestrane in the 1990s. Fintan was on the team which captured the title in 1994 and Paddy was particularly proud that both Fintan and Richard were on the teams which won the championship in 1997 and 1999.
Paddy's involvement with the GAA went beyond playing football. In the late 80s along with Ray Tully and a number of others he established the Sligo Supporters Club. This because "Club Sligo" in recent years. He served as Tourlestrane club delegate to the County Board and was also the Vice President of the Club was a selector with the Sligo junior team match and was present to see them match and was present to see them win the Connacht Championship in 2007 a day before his 81st birthday.
Away from the GAA fields, Paddy was a keen golfer and won the Captain's prize in Ballina Golf Club in 1965. He helped extend Enniscrone Golf Club from nine to eighteen holes.
Throughout his 84 years, Paddy's faith was central to his life and a great source of strength during his illness. He served as a Eucharistic Minister in Kilmactigue Church. Paddy was considered a gentleman by all those who had the privilege of knowing him. He is sadly missed by his family, relatives and a wide circle of friends.
He was predeceased by sisters Mary, Linda, Anne and Teresa and brothers Richie and Jimmy. He is survived by his wife Teresa, four children, Richard, Fintan, Mari and Linda, daughters -in-law, Jacqui and Geraldine, sons-in-law Brendan, sister Dolly, grandchildren Oisin, Rian, Molly, Ella, Jay, Amelia, Amy, and Eoin. His funeral Mass took place in The Church of the Holy Rosary, with burial in Kilmactigue cemetery.
Courtesy of the Sligo Champion
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