Tributes pour in for Kerry legend Paidi O Se

O Se died suddenly last week

“It was at a low ebb at that time and he certainly did that. For a number of years after it, he contributed hugely. There is no need to talk about his prowess as a player. He achieved so much.

“As a manager, that is how I’ll remember him. He looked after us, he looked out for us, he shaped the way we played and thought about football. He was an amazing, amazing manager. He was a gregarious character, full of fun and he’ll be sorely missed.”

Fellow Kerry legend Mick O’Dwyer also paid tribute to O Se.

O’Dwyer told the Irish Independent, “Paidi was as good a defender as ever wore the Kerry jersey -- there’s no doubt in the world about that.

“He was a great captain when we won the All-Ireland in 1985, a great man to motivate lads and to say the right thing at the right time.

“He did a lot of talking that year. He loved the whole captaincy thing. You’d know well he’d be back as a manager later on.”

Armagh’s 2002 All-Ireland winning boss Joe Kernan said, “The reaction to his death up here in Ulster has been incredible. Every GAA man, woman and child in any part of the country felt they knew Paidi. He was just one of those great characters that people loved. It’s hard to believe he’s gone.”

Dublin hero Paddy Cullen said, “He was a one-off. If you take him as an overall package he was the probably the GAA’s biggest diamond because he was a great promotional guy for the game.

“Everywhere he appeared he epitomized the game. He was a Gaeilgeoir, almost a historian, nearly a politician. He knocked on every door. I don’t think he could have achieved much more in his life.”
GAA President Liam O’Neill led the association’s tribute at Tuesday’s funeral.

He said, “There was hardly a person on the island of Ireland, never mind in the GAA, who did not recognize or know of Paidi O Se, such was his contribution to the association and to Irish life over a prolonged period.

“His excellence on the field of play in what was the greatest football team of all time still stands out to those of us who saw it and his passion for the game in no way ended with the completion of his playing days.

As a player in the great Kerry team, O Se won eight All-Ireland medals and played in 10 finals, conceding just one point from play to a direct opponent.

He also won 11 Munster football championships, four National League titles, four Railway Cups, five All Stars and two County Senior Championships.

An online book of condolence has been opened on his website www.Paidiose.com.
 

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Nster.com