Civic Reception for
handball legend
Legendary Sligo handball player
Paddy Walsh was honoured with a Civic Reception from Sligo Lord Mayor Marcella
McGarry, writes Michael McGee
Present at the Civic Reception
were former Lord Mayor’s Matt Lyons & Rosaleen O’Grady. Cyril Feehily Sligo
G.A.A Board Chairman, Peter Heaney Chairman Connacht Handball Council, Shane
Bruen Chairman Sligo Handball Board, Hugh McGarry Chairman Collooney Handball Club,
members of Paddy Walsh’s family and Sligo Handball Board Officials & personnel
Lord Mayor Marcella McGarry
welcomed everyone to the “Mayors Parlour” for this special occasion to honour
Paddy Walsh. In a very professionally scripted
speech she described Paddy Walsh as our local sporting hero. “He is one of the
most outstanding sportsmen of our generation.
What Paddy Walsh has achieved is never to be equalled. His
characteristic no nonsense determined approach stood out, he wanted to win
every game.
He is the complete dedicated player who has
reached legendary status. His
achievements at the highest level, both nationally and locally is amazing. He gained his first All-Ireland success in
1974 and just a couple of weeks ago in Clare he gained his 29th
National title. At 73, it is an
incredible achievement and absolutely brilliant. Paddy is an excellent
ambassador at the pinnacle winning 27 more All-Ireland titles including 4 in
one year alone. It’s an accomplishment deserving acclaim for his sporting
prowess. He has also won 6 County G.A.A
titles with Collooney/Ballisodare and 1 with the St. Mary’s club.
He is coaching in the Collooney
club and passing on his vast experience to the next generation of handball
players. He is immensely proud of his young player’s achievements and happy that
they are aspiring to follow in his footsteps.
He was the first to suggest the provision of
better playing facilities in the Collooney handball club as far back as 2007.
Paddy also received a lifetime sporting achievement award from G.A.A Handball in
2009. The sporting icon is also involved in numerous community organisations to
many to mention.”
The Lord Mayor ended by saying “Every
sport needs a Paddy Walsh with his energy, inspiration and motivation. “
Shane Bruen Chairman of the Sligo
handball Board thanked the Lord Mayor for her great speech. He warmly praised Walsh for all he has
achieved in handball spanning 6 decades and for also giving his time to
coaching the young players in the Collooney handball club. “Nobody deserves this award more than Paddy
Walsh,” said Bruen. The Co. Chairman evoked
special memories of Walsh’s early sports career.
After the reception the handball
fraternity gathered outside on the steps of the Sligo Borough Council Offices
in the warm evening sunshine. All the
Sligo handball members shared in Paddy Walsh’s special day. It was “Paddy’s Day” in Sligo. The quiet man
in the midst of his fellow handball friends stood tallest his unquenchable
sporting spirit beaming , burning brightly as warm and radiant as the autumnal sun’s
rays.
It was
a very historic occasion for Sligo handball. Walsh will go down in the annals
of Sligo G.A.A. as the County’s greatest ever handball player. Walsh has achieved everything in the sport
and to receive the distinguished Civic Reception from the Sligo Lord Mayor
Marcella McGarry capped off a special year for the Sligo sports legend.
We can all look back with huge pride and
affection at his achievements, his unquestionable talent and the super human
efforts to win games has dazzled and amazed us all for many years. And also to
look forward to see our herculean handball hero winning even more handball
titles in the years to come.
Sligo Handball players & Officials celebrating with Paddy Walsh
