PA FITZGERALD – A Club Tribute
Another great Rockie and lover of greyhounds, Pa Fitzgerald, passed away peacefully on Wednesday (30th Dec) aged 88.
Pa first came to prominence in the sporting world seventy years ago when he made his Senior Football Championship debut with the Club on the 9th August 1950. Just eleven days after (20th Aug) he played a prominent role in Kerry’s All Ireland MF semi final win against Antrim. That game was played in Austin Stack Park with Kerry having an easy win over the Ulster Champions on a scoreline of 2-9 to 0-1. Pa scored 1-3 of Kerry’s total that day. Then over a month later he won an All Ireland MF medal with Kerry, along with his Club colleagues, Kevin Barry, Bobby Miller and Paddy O’Donnell. Pa was the man who got the ball rolling for Kerry that day when his perfect pass found his Club colleague, Bobby Miller for Kerry’s first goal. Pa continued playing Senior for the Club right up to 1958, playing his last Championship game in a round one victory over John Mitchels (2-5 to 1-4) on the 11th May.
Pa’s other great sporting passion was greyhound sports and one of his outstanding successes was when he trained a dog named Ballinderry Ash (owned by Duagh’s Patsy Byrne) that won the English Derby in 1991.
The Club extends its sincere sympathy to Pa’s brother, Brendan; to his sisters Rose and Teresa; to his nephew, John; his nieces, Helen, Angela, Siobhán and Liz; and to all his extended family and friends on their sad loss.
Pa Fitzgerald pictured with his niece Angela on Oct 28th, 2017 as part of our Centenary Celebrations when our 27 All Ireland Minor Football Medal winners were honoured.
Pa’s funeral will take place this Saturday Jan 2nd – funeral arrangements as follows: https://rip.ie/death-notice/pa-fitzgerald-tralee-kerry/443636