Paddy lived a long and happy life. A community man who had a great 'gra' for the land. His favourite poem was "The Harrow" which was read at his funeral mass. "What you sow you will reap" as the old saying goes and he took great care and great pride in his lambs and sheep. In his teaching profession he was honest and fair, demanded respect and the same was returned with plenty to spare. He trained the School football teams. Winning matches was great but after tasting defeat, the response was the same. "Ye did very well, we will take them next time" and no one was to blame. He took it all in his stride, no panic or fuss and that Beetle carried more than a Double Decker Bus.
Win, lose or draw, coming home they would stop and the sweets were then bought at the small country shop. Those sweets meant so much. Wonderful times, healthier, fitter and they got on very well with our facebook or twitter.
It's not the same now without him and i'm sure up above many games are being played. You can picture it now as they all get together, Jack McNally and Stanley, JP is there too, Josie and Michael to name but a few. Excitement is high as the game ebbs and flows and Sean O'Brien on the line keeps them all on their toes.
The Church on the hill couldn't hold the huge crowd, the weather unkind, it was stormy and raining, but they didn't mind. Time marches on. At the school nearby the children play in the fields below, the lambs jump and skip, life goes on and 'the show must go on' as the show people say and Paddy would want it no other way.
To do Paddy Fox justice you could fill a book. He talked and he listened, be it Director or Selector, he was at the centre of things. You could call him the 'Hub' and he gave his time and his wisdom for the good of the people the Parish and the club.

Leitrim Observer, 28th March 2014 Tweet

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