Shock and sadness at sudden passing of Páidí Ó Sé

By Kieran Galvin Former Westmeath manager and Kerry football legend Páidí Ó Sé died suddenly this morning (Saturday). Mr Ó Sé, who was found dead at his home at Ventry in west Kerry, was just 57, and is understood to have died from a suspected heart attack. News of Páidí's death has caused shock and sadness throughout the country. In Westmeath, he will be forever remembered as the man who guided the county to their first Leinster senior football title in 2004. Páidí was appointed as Westmeath's senior football team manager in 2003 and he steered the Lake County to its first ever Leinster championship in 2004. Ironically, Westmeath defeated a Laois team managed by Páidí's old mentor, Mick O'Dwyer in the Leinster final. A teak tough defender, Páidí won eight All-Ireland medals with Kerry as a player. He lifted the Sam Maguire as Kerry captain in 1985. Páidí guided his native county to two All-Ireland crowns as a manager (1997 and 2000). The 1997 success was Kerry's first All-Ireland success since 1986 - a long drought by Kerry standards. A larger than life character, Páidí was a hugely popular figure, and his death has caused shock well beyond the footballing community in Westmeath and his native Kerry, where he managed a renowned a public house. Pat Spillane, one of his playing colleagues with Kerry, described him as a "rogue in the best sense" and "a warrior" on the field of play. Westmeath football star Dessie Dolan was among those who paid tribute to Páidí when speaking on RTE radio today (Saturday). GAA President pays tribute GAA President Liam Ó Néill has expressed his sympathies on behalf of the GAA to the Ó Sé family. He said: "There was hardly a person on the island of Ireland, never mind in the GAA, who did not recognise or know of Páidí Ó Sé, 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. "Páidí's affection for the Irish language and Irish culture in general were other hallmarks of a man who was steeped in the area he called home. "On behalf of the wider GAA family I extend my condolences to his wife Máire, his daughters Siún and Neasa, son Pádraig Óg, brother Tomás and the wider Ó Sé family including his nephews Darragh, Tomás and Marc, all of whom followed his example in the green and gold of Kerry."