Tribute - Well known Kilkenny businessman passes away

ABOVE: Appointed manager of the Credit Union in 1968, Paddy Kennedy oversaw many developments during his tenure

St Canice’s spread the Credit Union gospel throughout Kilkenny, Carlow and Laois at meetings in Callan, Ballyragget, Bennettsbridge, Graignamanagh, Abbeyleix, Bagenalstown and Leighlinbridge.

Usually under the leadership of Gus Murray, a the group of Paddy Kennedy and Paddy Power and myself, with others would attend at a venue and tell how Credit Unions worked.

Gus was recognised by the League for this work. Later he was elected president of the Irish League of Credit Unions and became the first Irish president of the World Council of Credit Unions. One day Maureen Burke of Ballyragget sought to join St Canice’s but was ineligible. Soon afterwards a meeting was organised by Fr Grant for the Father Malone Hall. Paddy Kennedy, Gus Murray and I went out there.

Afterwards the parish priest Canon Malone invited us to his house for refreshments, a rare occurrence. We were all perished and the Canon offered us some whiskey, which was most welcome. Unfortunately, as it was Lent Paddy had to reluctantly refuse; the one and only occasion we were offered alcohol!

A man of steely determination, when he discovered one of his sons had started to smoke, he proposed they both give up the cigarettes for Lent. Paddy never smoked again, but continued annually to give up alcohol for Lent.

A Glenmore man, Paddy went to school in Ballyfacey and won a scholarship to attend De La Salle Waterford. In his day there was no free education - you paid fees. He joined Lipton’s and having worked in several branches he was appointed manager in the Kilkenny branch. He quickly established Lipton’s as a great place to shop.

Paddy was essentially a family man, and he met the love of his life Rita West in Kilkenny. They shared a love of dancing and were always first on the floor to face the music and dance.

An accomplished snooker player, his first love was billiards, and he won many prizes locally and at diocesan level. A lover of Gaelic games, he travelled to matches for many years with his Credit Union colleagues Paddy Fry, Denis Hamilton and the late Paddy Power. I can remember often leaving the Credit Union annual convention many Sunday afternoons to travel to Thurles for league finals. One year we travelled from Galway to Croke Park to see Kilkenny play Wexford in a league final.

Paddy loved nothing better than to enjoy a game of cards after finishing in the Credit Union on a Tuesday night in the Home Rule Club. When I joined the Credit Union Board you could always be sure that the meetings ended at about 10.45pm to get into Larry Langton’s next door. In 1970 this all changed when many respectable directors were ‘found on’ (drinking after hours) in Langton’s. Many rediscovered their interest in the Irish language and their names appeared as gaeilge in the Kilkenny People. This meant a change of venue to the Home Rule Club which had more flexible opening hours.

For 26 years Paddy was the public face of the Credit Union, never seeking publicity, but well known for his caring, professional manner, living out his Credit Union philosophy of caring and sharing. He was hugely successful and established the firm foundations on which St Canice’s Credit Union still stands.
One of nature’s gentlemen he had a full life well lived.
Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís.