Hero’s welcome for legend Paddy who beat Covid-19
Many of them had last spoken to the Galway man via a Zoom call and were convinced they were saying goodbye. Paddy (73), a quiet and unassuming West United clubman and father of four, had been given hours to live due to the impact of the Covid-19 virus.
“Doctors couldn’t give a percentage chance when they told us to keep our phones on for the next 12-24 hours,” said his son, Willie.
“When we were offered the Zoom call, we got up to 80 family and friends in this area known as The West to talk to him, including all his grandkids. We had no idea if he could hear us, or if he knew how ill he was. He had been in an induced coma, and was then taken off the ventilator, so there was just a wave...”
After 47 days in hospital, much of it in intensive care, Paddy was released to his home in St John’s Terrace, which Willie and his brothers Rodney, Alan and Dean had painted in West United colours.
Paddy’s GP, Dr Eamonn O’Shea, said it was “amazing he came out the other side”.
“We have had a Titanic survivor, and now we have a Covid-19 survivor,” neighbour Catherine La Farge said as bunting and banners and box music marked a hero’s return.
The tiny inner-city neighbourhood, which celebrated its centenary six years ago, has a distinguished roll call of residents, including weaver and piper Eugene Daly, who survived the Titanic’s sinking on April 15, 1912; writer Walter Macken; and Galway’s first female mayor, Mary Byrne.
Galway United and League of Ireland player Derek O’Brien was among Paddy’s many soccer friends to make the homecoming, along with city mayor Mike Cubbard. Also present were The West’s oldest resident, Mary ‘Granny’ Murphy (94), former Galway United captain Stephen Walsh, former Galway GAA star Cllr Eddie Hoare, and TD Mairead Farrell.
“We got letters from President Michael D Higgins, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, and the FAI wants to invite him to Stephen Kenny’s first game in charge as manager,” said Willie. Video messages were also relayed from Irish soccer centre-half John Egan and Galway champion hurler Joe Canning.
When Paddy went into hospital, he had a fever, but no other symptoms. Within four days, he was seriously ill in intensive care and Covid-19 had been confirmed.
“One of the nurses asked me my favourite musician,” said Paddy, “and I must have told her Elvis Presley, and I also told her my favourite song was You’ll Never Walk Alone. I think they must have played that to me when they thought I wasn’t going to make it, but I didn’t realise that at the time,” he said.
Dr O’Shea said: “The fact that he got through it and survived is very unusual.”
“The medical and nursing staff in UHG’s intensive care and the Corrib and Shannon wards were unbelievable,” said Willie.
Paddy admitted how difficult it was to cope with the isolation of intensive care. Two of his sons were also hit by the virus, but recovered at home.
Willie said the neighbourhood support was such that “we never had to cook a meal... and they were even dropping the porridge over when my dad came home...”