Paddy Heffernan, was always there to lend a helping hand, with a kind word for all

The community of the parish of Rosbercon were shocked and saddened when the news of the death of Patrick (Paddy) Heffernan from Ballyneale filtered through on Friday, September 29.

Even though he had been battling that cursed disease for the last few years with rare courage and dignity, his passing nevertheless was unexpected and left a void that will not be easily filled.

Born in Ballyneale in 1961, to Jimmy and Grace Heffernan, (née Davison), Paddy grew up on the family farm with his five brothers and one sister, and attended school in Listerlin National School and the Vocational School in New Ross.

From an early age he became very much involved in the GAA and figured for many years on the Tullogher hurling and football teams and represented Kilkenny with distinction on the hurling field. Not surprising, since his father Jimmy won an All-Ireland medal in that still famous classic final of 1947, when Kilkenny beat Cork with a last-minute point scored by Jimmy Kelly of Carrickshock. The story goes that the genial Jimmy robbed the ball off Jack Lynch when he was about to shoot; Jimmy often quipped “I must be the only man in Ireland who robbed a Taoiseach and got away with it”.

Paddy was only 15 when won his first county medal in 1976 at under-16, Tullogher beating Galmoy, 2-3 to 1-0, and came under the notice of the Kilkenny minor selectors. Picked for the Kilkenny team the following year in 1977 when only 16, with his brother Jimmy, they both won All-Ireland medals in Thurles when the Cats beat Cork after a replay, the sides finishing level in the first game (Kilkenny 4-8, Cork 3-11).

In tight re-run Kilkenny edged out the Leesiders with a score line of 1-8 to 0-9. Paddy secured another All-Ireland trophy in 1984 when, as a member of the Kilkenny junior team, they saw off the challenge of Galway, winning on a 0-13 to 2-5 scoreline.

On the club scene he was an ever-present player on the Tullogher hurling and football teams, spanning a long number of years. Equally at home with either the sliotar or the big ball, he was a commanding figure from his centre half-back position, winning numerous county titles in both codes.

In 1986, when Tullogher won the Kilkenny junior football final, flanked by his late brother John on the right and Paddy Gaule on the left the trio snuffed out a major threat posed by an up to then free-scoring Danesfort forward line. Jimmy and Liam Heffernan also contributed in a major way to that success. Paddy was in the true sense a wonderful servant of the GAA, both at club and county level.

Back in his native Ballyneale he was a daily visitor to Norah’s Shop, where the assembled group were known as ‘The Dail’. Here, every item under the sun was discussed in vivid detail, ranging from farming to business and politics, the state of the nation, the price of cattle and, of course, the GAA matches. Often the subjects might get quite heated depending on one’s political affiliations.

Paddy was the leader in preparing the cemetery in Ballyneale for the annual graveyard Mass, a task he did right up to the end.

He was always there to lend a helping hand to friend and neighbour in his own good-humoured way. No task was too big for this loveable man who has gone from us way too soon.

He was waked in Jamie Doyle’s Funeral Home on Sunday, October 1, where huge crowds from near and far gathered to pay their respects. On Monday one of the largest congregation of mourners even seen in the Church of the Assumption again gathered to say farewell to Paddy, showing the esteem in which he and his family are held by all.

After Requiem Mass, which was concelebrated by Fr Dan Cavanagh, Fr Liam Barron, Fr Robert Nolan and Fr Kehoe, his remains were taken to be interred in the family plot at Mullinarrigle Cemetery.

Paddy is survived by his wife Mary, for whom this was the second bereavement in recent weeks, daughters, Lizzie and Ann-Marie;, brothers Tom, Andy, Jimmy and Liam; sister Marie; nephews, nieces and a large extended family to whom sincere sympathy is extended in their great loss. May Paddy rest in peace.

Go nDeana Dia Trocaire ar a anam dilis.

- JM