Brosnan, Paddy
January 27, 2010Paddy Brosnan of Kilmurry, Castleisland, died peacefully at his home on January 20th, aged 92.
He was the principal of Castleisland Boys National School for over 30 years up to his retirement in 1981 and had a very high reputation as a teacher. Born in Dingle in 1917 he was one six children and a brother of the late Sean Brosnan who played centrefield on the great Kerry team of the late 1930s and early 1940s. He was educated at Dingle CBS, Coláiste na Mumhan Preparatory College, Mallow and De La Salle Teacher Training College, Waterford. He qualified as a national teacher in 1938. After a period in Dublin a teaching post in Knockeenhone. Scartaglin brought him to the Castleisland area in 1940, where he resided for the remainder of his life. He met Kitty Walsh of Kilmurry in the early 1940s and the couple married in 1945.
Paddy had a lifelong passion of Gaelic games. He had a distinguished playing career in both football and hurling in his college days and later he played football with Clann na nGael in Dublin and with his native Dingle before joining the Cordal GAA club in 1940. He played on the Cordal team that won the Castleisland District League in 1941 on the Castleisland district team that won the intermediate County Championship in 1942.
When he finally hung up his boots he remained very involved in the club and served as its chairman for a time. He had a keen interest in the Irish language and Irish culture and music and in politics and current affairs. His hobbies included swimming, reading, cinema and crosswords.
Paddy was very active in his local community and parish. His involvements included drama, traditional and choral music, Castleisland Development Association and the local group water scheme. He pursued all these activities with characteristic energy, enthusiasm and commitment. He had a great interest in people and was a trusted confidant to whom others often turned for advice and help. He was devoted to his family and in particular to the care of his wife Kitty in her latter years of declining health. She predeceased him in 2001.
He is survived by his son Joe and his daughter Helen Tuite, three grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.
Courtesy of the Kerry Eye
January 28th 2010 Tweet
