One Boy of Barr na Sraide The late Patrick Moran Former outstanding footballer with St Mary's football club, Cahersiveen, Padneen, was an enthusiastic player of St Mary's GAA club in the 1950s. He had the honour of having a trial for the Kerry minors. Padneen won a South Kerry championship medal in 1954 with is beloved St Mary's and was to play a star role in that championship affair. Immigration was to take Padneen to England later though. "Padneen" was born in Barr na Sraide where he resided with this family. Padneen went to school at Cahersiveen Christian Brothers where he achieved great success as an athlete and a boxer and a good education. He played with such household names as Ned Fitzgerald, Jerome O'Shea, Gerald Sullivan and Junior Murphy. Padneen went to England in the 1950s where he was to carry his trade as a painter and his employer at the time, John O'Connor, of Kells, was often heard to say "Padneen was the best cradle man of his time in London." Heights meant nothing to him and it was there that he was to meet his future wife, Theresa and they were to live there until Christmas 1975. Padneen never enjoyed anything better than returning to Cahersiveen for his summer holidays and christmas times and relaying stories to both young and old. Padneen and Theresa went to live in Woodbrook where they settled back and built a great home for their family. "Padneen" liked nothing better than cycling his bike and later in life to roll his grandchildren through the town. The removal of Padneen's remains from Cournane's funeral home with a guard of honour being provided by St Mary's football club and the large crowds from far and wide that attended his removal and burial the following day in Killovarnogue bore testament to the respect the community had for him. His coffin was shouldered from O'Connell's Memorial Church to the burial Ground and was covered by St Mary's Flag and a fitting tribute to his life was when Kieran McCarthy sang the Boys of Barr na Sraide. "Padneen is sadly missed by his wife, Theresa; daughters, Denise, Karen and Amy; sons, John and Padriag; son-in-law Vernon and grandchildren and also his brothers and sisters. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. Courtesy of The Kerryman 02 February 2006 Tweet

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