Born on the 19 July 1944 in the Midlands, Paddy Flynn lived a full life. He lived in Bloomfield Co Offaly with his parents, two brothers Martin and Johnny and sister Maureen, where he attended Bloomfield National School and was christened in nearby Ballinahown Church.
At the age of 10, the family moved to Mount Temple, where Paddy attended the local national school. Paddy’s love of rugby soon started. He first took to the playing fields in Athlone where he soon flourished and throughout his distinguished auctioneering career, Paddy was never found wanting with the gavel in hand, probably helped by his school shows and his love of theatre.
After working for a short time in Athlone, Paddy got the opportunity to move to a job in Galway, with builders providers in Hynes Building Galway city. Soon after this move, he joined Corinthians RFC and the rest is history. He and his love affair with Corinthians RFC flourished. While in Hynes Builders Providers, Paddy spent a lot of time on the road and formed friends for life.
Paddy met his lifelong partner and best friend Marrion, and while they lived in a flat in Dominick Street and other properties throughout the city, they purchased a site on the School Road in Castlegar. There they set up home. Paddy set his successful Estate Agency practise Galway Real Estate in the early 1980s and GRE became a major player in Galway city’s property scene.
Paddy was always to the helm, but his constant throughout this time was his very able office manager Agnes Kilgarriff, who worked with Paddy for 42 years. Paddy had a very deep faith attending mass in Castlegar Church every Sunday morning and rarely missed morning mass in the Claddagh on work mornings.
On the playing field Paddy was less charming and suave than when in his auctioneers’ suit. Paddy was a powerful runner who seldom sought the scenic route to find the try line. The encounters between Galwegians John Connolly and Paddy are legendary.
A contest where no quarter was ever asked or given. In the great ethos of rugby, it only served to grow a lifelong friendship. From Cork to Belfast Paddy was a well-known figure and nurtured many friendships throughout the rugby communities. Paddy was captain of Galway Corinthians in the 1969-70 season at a time that saw Corinthians battle with UCG and Galwegians in the Connacht Senior League and Cup.
He was also honoured with selection for Connacht at senior level, making his debut against Leinster on the 4th of November 1972 playing six times. His last game for the province was on the 8th of December 1973 against Munster in a team that was coached by another Corinthians man in Dr Tony Browne.
Once he finished playing with the Club, Paddy immediately took up the role of coaching and was involved with U16s/18s and 20s teams, where a trip away was always part of Paddy’s plan with a trip to Portadown the highlight of many player’s season. When he finished his coaching, Paddy then moved to the administration in the Club, where he held a variety of positions in Corinthians and became president of the club for the 1982-83 season that saw the club win the Connacht Senior League and reach the Connacht Senior Cup Final against Galwegians.
Paddy was also an avid golfer and was a integral part of the Corinthians Golf Society and Castlegar Golf Society over the years. But in truth, Paddy’s legacy could lie in his time coaching underage at his club. So many u18s and 20s he shaped and developed and made their rugby experience such a joy. A wining mentality was followed with how to lose with grace.
He instilled a positive attitude to his players “ Come On You Guys” his sideline call. Paddy brought his young men to Belfast and Portadown to experience new rugby horizons. Travelling by car, everyone wanted to travel with Paddy. Paddy had the key ingredient to coach young men, ENJOYMENT. That is why he will live with them forever.
Paddy left a positive mark on all he met throughout his life and will leave a huge void for Marrion, his family and extended sporting colleagues and many many friends…
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílís
