Flavin, Paddy
February 19, 2013It was over twenty five years ago, when following the Waterford hurlers was not as fashionable as it has become over the past ten or twelve years, that a challenge game between Waterford and Limerick took place on an inclement Saturday afternoon in January at a rural venue in county Limerick. It was one of those days when you would not put a dog out and even the locals did not turn out to see the home team playing. As the ball was being thrown in, and those of us involved took up our positions on the sideline, a lone figure was espied on the embankment.
We did not have to ask who it might be. The cloth cap tilted slightly to the left on his balding head meant it could be none other than Paddy Flavin. We need not have been surprised for seldom did a Waterford game take place anywhere without Paddy getting wind of it and arriving on the scene. Paddy departed this life at the venerable age of ninety years last week and the turnout at his removal from Killure Bridge to Fenor Church on Wednesday and his burial on Thursday was testimony to the esteem in which the man was held. It was one of his surviving team mates of the great Fenor sides of the past. Bob Rockett who paid a moving tribute to Paddy, at his funeral mass, as a dedicated, tenacious and courageous corner back in his playing days. A few lines encapsulated the character that was Paddy Flavin. I quote.
"His raw courage inspired team mates to up their performance. For Paddy a little loss of dignity was preferable to a dignified defeat."
At the end of his playing days Paddy Flavin never stopped serving his beloved Fenor and took great pride in what he described as the transformation of a bog into the splendid playing pitch that is the Fenor club grounds today. He always took pride in preparing the pitch for games by cutting the grass and putting out the flags for matches. It was his loyalty to Fenor and the GAA in the county that saw him receive the Jack Furlong Award for behind the scene services to club and county. While Paddy drove the length and breadth of the country to Waterford matches he enjoyed the trips on the bus to championship games in Thurles or Cork in the company of other supporters but when it came to slagging, you did not want to get involved with Paddy for you would never come out on top.
Over recent years we have seen competitions to find Waterford's greatest hurling supporter but for me and others of my time there could be no contest, for Paddy Flavin stood out above all others. He will be sadly missed but remembered by all who knew him. Paddy will also be remembered also for his many years of dedicated service to Waterford County and City Councils.
He is survived by his sons, Sean who won two senior football and junior hurling championships with Tramore and who played senior football for Waterford, Tom who won Eastern titles in hurling and football with Fenor, Michael and Gerard, his daughters Mary, Patricia, Joan, Brigid and Noreen, daughters in law, sons in law, grandchildren and great grandchildren, brothers Mickey and Johnny and sisters. His grandsons Wayne and J.J. Hutchinson play hurling and football respectively for Ballygunner, Gaultier and Waterford.
Courtesy of The Waterford News & Star. Tweet
