Deering, Paschal
October 29, 2008
While Paschal was a man of many parts, involved in the political, business and sporting life of his community and county nowhere was his passing more deeply mourned than within the Gaelic Athletic Association. While he was a follower of all sport and was deeply involved in rugby and golf it was in Gaelic Football that he made his mark and that game remained his greatest love right up to the end. Even on his good days throughout his recent illness he was a regular attender at Mick O'Dwyer's training sessions in Aughrim and other venues.
One of his fondest memories was his involvement in the Dublin Wicklow-mens Cup - now the oldest trophy still played for in the county. That cup was first played for in 1950 and Dunlavin and Newtown met in the final. On that day in Ashford a young stripling, just turned 16, his mop of red hair blowing in the breeze caught the eye of everyone, friend and foe. While Newtown won the match the Dunlavin midfielder gave such a display that the organiser of the competition, the late Joe Dunne of Newtown took the then unusual stop of naming him 'man of the match' and presented him with the match ball.
That match was also the first Wicklow final ever filmed in full and by some unusual circumstances Paschal became the owner of that film in recent years, and on rare occasions showed it for his friends and former team members.
Paschal was the centre-forward on the Wicklow team that played Meath in Croke Park on what was to become known as the day of the long count. Wicklow were leadding at the end of the hour and deep into injury-time but the referee, Bill Delaney of Laois, another of the football immortals, played an extra nine minutes. That great Meath team won in the end and to rub salt into Wicklow wounds went on to take their second All Ireland title.
Paschal had many more great days on the playing fields but his football career with Wicklow was cut somewhat short by the fact that he emigrated, first to England and later to Australia.
During his stay down under he had the unusual distinction of refereeing a match between a touring Kerry team and an Aussie Rules team. No compromise rules in those but his son Mark, in his brilliant tribute to his father from the altar in Dunlavin told us that Paschal probably made up the rules as he went along.
The great Mick O'Dwyer was playing in that match and the occasion was recalled recently when Paschal presented Micko with the oval match ball in memory of that day.
Paschal met and married the love of his life Una Mahon of Valleymount and that may have accounted for the fact that he played for the Lakeside club for a time.
On his return from Australia Paschal took over as trainer of the Dunlavin Senior team and brought them to a County Final in 1972.
A huge crowd turned out at his removal to the local church in Dunlavin on Thursday night and again at his funeral on Friday. Officers of Wicklow County Board and of the Dunlavin Club, current and former club and county players joined forces to form a guard of honour on both days and marched with the cortege to the cemetery.
Among the many former playing colleagues we spotted at the funeral were that great goalie Andy Phillips marking in the guard of honour. Their also was a man who played against him in that first final - Jimmy Hatton from Kilcoole and his brother Danny; the Clarke brothers from Kilbride, Peter and Tommy; Jim Coates, who played for Donard, Dunlavin and Moorfield, Frank O'Neill from Stratford.
To his wife Una, his son and daughter, his brothers, sisters and extended family we extend our sympathy.
Wicklow People, 29th October 2008
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