Geoghegan, Paddy
September 30, 2007
The death of Paddy Geoghegan at University College Hospital, marked the end of an era in the life of the Craughwell community.
On Friday and Saturday, young and old joined GAA and political dignitaries from the four corners of the county and beyond as they came to pay final tribute to one of the great Gaels.
Paddy Geoghegan, who was a larger than life character, is remembered as a thorough gentleman, a family man and a good neighbour with a sharp intellect and timely wit.
After his wife and family his great passions were the GAA and Fine Gael and he gave a lifelong service to both organisations.
Born in 1931, when Craughwell won their last senior title, he had a great affinity with all those old hurlers and they held him in very high regard.
They entrusted him with the stewardship of Sean McDermott's club at a young age and he remained loyally involved at local and county level to the end.
At the time of his death he was Vice President of the Galway Hurling Board and Craughwell Club Delegate.
His input to every facet of Craughwell GAA spanned sixty years. He was a wiry and uncompromising corner back.
He refereed many games in the days of the South Board. he was a selector at local and County level and held various officerships of the Craughwell club since 1957.
He managed the finances of the club in the good and bad old days and time and again would have put his hand in his pocket to keep the ship afloat.
He was instumental in the purchase of the 'Lawn' from the Galway Blazers and was invited to join his much older committee members in dedicated the 'Lawn' to the memory of Pake Gilligan.
It was appropriate that his club colours should drape his coffin having been carefully placed there by his friends and former team mates Tom fahy and Johnny Callahan.
A large guard of honour, led by both men, escorted his remains from Cawley's funeral home on Friday evening and again on Saturday to his final resting place in Ballymore, pausing as it passed the hurling field where the club flag few at half mast.
In his homily as the concelebrated funeral Mass, chief celebrant Rev Fr. Christy O'Connor PP, recalled Paddy's righteousness, honesty and integrity.
Concluding his homily Fr O'Connor said he was confident God would now deal Paddy a good hand.
Lenore McGlynn gave a heart warming rendition of Paddy's favourite 'Wind Beneath My Wings', while Michael Larkin in an eulogy on behalf of Craughwell Club, recalled Paddy's life long contribution to the GAA, their many meetings and fundraisings and the political banter afterwards.
A graveside oration was given by local man and farming neighbour Miko Ryan, Chairman of the Galway Hurling Board.
The sympathy of the community is extended to his wife Kathleen, sons Michael, Patrick and Thomas, daughters Kay, Tina, Olivia and Mary, sister Bebe Cannon, brothers Michael and Tom, relatives and friends.
Courtesy of the Connacht Tribune. 21 September, 2007.
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