Birthday appeal for best pal gets an All-Star response
WHEN Wexford man Philip ‘Powder’ Freeman appealed for help on Snapchat to make the birthday of his best friend Paul Kelly Scott “one to remember”, he never expected the amazing response he would get.
From an invitation to meet Kilkenny hurling All-stars Colin Fennelly and TJ Reid, to presents from Ireland’s top racehorse trainers, the reaction has helped bring a smile to many faces in these difficult times.
Philip and Paul have been friends for years and their companionship has attracted a big following on social media.
After joining Paul for a pint in a local pub one evening, the pair became inseparable after Paul showed up at Philip’s house the next day asking him to go for another few quick ones.
“To this day I still have absolutely no idea how he got my address or found me, but we’ve been hanging out ever since,” Philip said.
Paul, a big Ballyhale Shamrocks fan, recently turned 53 and his birthday was definitely one to cherish.
“With Covid and everything else that has been going on, I wanted to make it a special day for him as none of us knows what the future holds,” Philip said.
“Paul has Down syndrome and may not have the same lifespan as the rest of us, so when I said it was his birthday, I never imagined in a million years people would show the generosity they did.”
Snapchat followers sent cards, crates of beer and Lotto tickets. GAA teams – club and county – posted him signed jerseys and invited him to matches.
Horse trainers Gordon Elliott, Willie Mullins and Jessica Harrington got in touch with gifts and to wish him a happy birthday.
Jockey and qualified pilot Sean Flanagan offered to fly the pair to the Aran Islands for a day out.
“Presents came from Boston, Canada, Manchester and Germany,” Philip said. “Ballyhale Shamrocks invited us up so he could lift the cup after they won the county final, but the beauty of Paul is he just treats everyone the same.
“He’d be just as happy getting a signed jersey from me or you as he would be getting one from TJ Reid.”
Philip was invited on RTÉ’s The Late, Late Show last year after a picture of him holding a homemade hawk-eye sign at the Bord na Móna Walsh Cup final went viral.
During his appearance he gave a shout out to Paul, who was thrilled to see his pal on television.
“Paul is a bright light in a dark room,” said Philip.