Ballymachugh GAA, Cavan GAA, indeed the entire community straddling the north western shores of Lough Sheelin lost a huge friend and leader last week with the sad passing of Master Paddy Gill.
A proud native of the Aran Islands, Paddy came to teach in south Cavan way back in 1956, a role he continued for all of 37 years, marrying local girl Maureen O'Reilly and the couple reared a fine family of nine, three girls and six boys.
But there was much more to Paddy Gill than the honour and prestige associated with being the local school principal, not that he sought even the slightest portion of praise in the first place. He was involved in every community effort of note. If ever a pair of tried and trusted hands were required, then the big Galway supporter was your man.
His efforts with the local Group Water Scheme were a huge success and a big part of this rural achievement was the fact, as relayed over and over again by various speakers at his funeral mass, that the people simply trusted Paddy Gill.
And when Cavan were the first county to organise what is now the very popular Feile na nGael in 1982, one of the main architects behind the scenes was one Paddy Gill.
The GAA was a huge part of Paddy's life, a trait which he happily passed on to his family. The keen Irish language activist became involved with Ballymachugh almost immediately on his arrival amongst the south Cavan foothills, serving his club in many capacities and attended county board meetings for decades. He was a huge driving force during those bleak days of the late fifties, on into the sixties, seventies and indeed the eighties as emigration ravaged the area.
Former County Board Chairman Peter Brady in an outstanding eulogy referred to the splendid playing facilities now at Ballymachugh's disposal and remarked that none of them would be available without men like Paddy Gill.
Many other fine tributes were made in Ballynarry Church last Thursday afternoon. A well known GAA figure commented: "he deserved evey word spoken and if anything they did not do Paddy Gill justice".
Paddy was predeceased by his son Brian.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
The chair in the corner,
I was always greeted with 'Hello, my dear'
Paddy Gill sat there,
With a smile from ear to ear.
Completing daily crosswords 'til the day was out,
Or watching football on the TV with great shouts,
'Ciúnas! Ciúnas!' you would always plead,
Or 'Dún an doras mas é do thoil é!', that's all you would need.
But first a cup of tea with a toffee pop or four,
We knew you had a sweet tooth so we always snuck you more!
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