Philipstown lost one of its most popular residents with the death of Paddy Halpenny. Paddy lived all his life in the locality and was a man of many parts.
Born in 1940, he was a pupil of the old national school, which stood at the site of the former community hall. The young Paddy only had yards to travel as he lived in the house adjacent to the school.
That hall also created and honed his skills in card playing, as card games were also a regular function in the hall. Paddy was a great contributor to St. Kevin’s GFC and served as a treasurer for many years.
He was always willing to be an umpire at the matches, and it was told when he was young he would stand between the posts as a goalkeeper and if required would venture further afield.
Paddy was reward for his years of dedication in 1982, when he was made Club worker of the year by the Louth GAA supporters’ club. He was also awarded St. Kevin’s club worker of the year in 1996. With all this, it is hard to believe he was also an ardent follower of the Dubs. The only conclusion for this can be that in his days in the Collon county quarry, everyone had to fight their own corner. Fittingly, a Dublin jersey adorned his coffin on his final journey.
Prior to working in the Louth County Council, Paddy worked the land and the local Church was very close to his heart. Many will miss seeing him slip into the bookies too, as Paddy loved to keep up with the gee gees. He will be sadly missed in Philipstown and further afield and none more so than his sister Maura and Kevin, and all his nieces and nephews who all recall his generous visits to Molly’s all those years ago.