Faithful in mourning over hero
FORMER Offaly footballer Paddy Fenning has died at the age of 69 after battling motor neurone disease bravely for the past year.
Fenning was part of the Offaly team that won the county’s first senior All-ireland in 1971 while he starred as they retained the title the following year, scoring the only goal in a resounding nine-point victory over Kerry in the All-ireland final replay.
He completed 11 SFC campaigns with his county from 1970-80, also winning four Leinster titles as well as a Railway Cup in 1974.
With his club, Tullamore, he won county titles in 1973 and ‘77.
Named as Offaly Person of the Year in 2011, Fenning was a driving force behind many worthy initiatives in his locality, including spearheading fundraising efforts for a CAT scan in Tullamore Hospital, a swimming pool for the town and, latterly, an arts centre which is set to open soon.
He resolved to put his fundraising nous to good use when diagnosed last year with MND, for which there is no cure, resolving to raise €150,000 for research and support services around the condition, as well as local homeless causes.
“I have accepted it,” he commented, in relation to his diagnosis. “Like, why not me? Why should it be somebody else?”
The fundraising drive with a €150,000 target was due to culminate in a walk along the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore on June 7, which had to be postponed owing to the COVID-19 outbreak though will be rescheduled.
Donations can be made through: www.gofundme. com/f/mndwalk.