The death of well known and highly respected Paddy Troy of Darby Villa, Kickham Street, Thurles, came as a great shock to a wide circle of friends and associates who had come in contact with him down through the years. A man who was tremendously respected in the community, Paddy and his wife Nora were inseparable and were deeply involved in a number of community organisations, most notable Comhaltas Ceoilteoiri Eireann and the GAA. Originally from Moyne Templehuohy, Paddy Troy was a great Gael in his earlier days playing hurling and football for the club. His love of GAA never waned and after his playing days he went on to become involved at administrative level. He was a member of Thurles Sarsfields also and was on the committee which pushed ahead with the planning and building of Sarsfields Social Centre. Paddy was also involved in Semple Stadium and was a regular steward at the VIP section of Ardan Ui Riain where he would meet and greet the special guests on match days. This was one aspect of his life he loved and Paddy was greatly respected in this capacity. He always had a word of greeting for people and was a perfect gentleman, even when the pressure of big match day was on. Many GAA people came to pay their respects including GAA President and friend Nicky Brennan. As was fitting of Paddy Troy's welcome to all in Semple Stadium, the GAA President was greeted warmly and appreciatively by the Troy family at the funeral home on Saturday evening. Of course Paddy loved to meet and chat to people and his job with the Royal Liver Assurance brought him in contact with so many. He was friend to many thorough his work and many former colleagues and acquaintances arrived in Thurles to pay their final respects during the weekend. Paddy's second passion was Comhaltas. He and Nora gave a lifetime of services to the organisation and he was extremely proud of his position as President of Munster Council. They were almost single handedly responsible for running the organisation in Tipperary with Nora still being involved at officer level. Again there was a very large turnout of Comhaltas people at Egan's Nursing Home on Saturday evening including the Director General Senator Labhras O'Murchu and his wife Una. Paddy Troy was a man who always kept himself well. A smart dresser, he always had a smile on his face and loved to walk the streets of the Cathedral town he came to love upon his move into Thurles. his neighbours regarded him very highly indeed and he had a huge circle of friends who counted themselves lucky to know him. Paddy Troy will be greatly missed in GAA and Comhaltas circles. His passing has left a void - a great community man has gone to his eternal reward. However, it is his wife Nora, daughters Mairead and Aideen, grandchildren, son-in-law, brothers Joe, Danny and Mick, sisters Peg and Mary, nieces and nephews, relatives and friends who will miss him most. To them he was a special man who cannot be replaced. To the community at large, Paddy was also special. Testimony to this was the large attendance which turned out to pay their final respects on Saturday and Sunday as Paddy;s remains passed his home in Kickham Street for the last time en route from the Cathedral of the Assumption to St Patrick's Cemetery. There he was laid to rest. Courtesy of Tipperary Star. August 2007 Tweet

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