Mayo legend Paddy Prendergast has died aged 95.
He won All-Ireland titles with Mayo in 1950 and 1951, the latter being the last time that the county won the football championship.
The Ballintubber man, know as 'Ballet', played fullback for Mayo. A former guard, he spent most of his adult life living in Kerry.
"When someone like that passes, something really special goes out of everyone's lives," Paddy's friend Sean Lyons, also a Mayo man living in Kerry, told Midwest Radio.
"Gentlemen is the word most people would think of when it comes to Paddy P, as everybody knew him.
"He was held in such respect by everybody in Mayo, but in Kerry as well. Everywhere he went, Paddy brought something special with him. It's a sad, sad day."
Saddened to hear of the loss of paddy prendergast. One thing that made me proud as a player was men of the 51 all Ireland team telling me I was a decent player over the years. Met paddy a few times in Tralee and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Rest easy champ. 🙌
— Conor.mortimer (😷)⚽️ (@Conmort) September 26, 2021
Sean said Paddy "loved nothing more than talking about the old days growing up in Ballintubber".
"He never forgot his roots," he said.
"He loved Mayo, and loved the green and red. He was a passionate man. I'll miss the get-togethers.
"The last time I met him was two weeks before the All-Ireland. I was out in the house. A man up in Mayo had contacted me about getting a few footballs signed by Paddy. I brought them out, sat with him, and Paddy signed the footballs.
"We talked about Castlebar, we talked about Ballintubber."
Paddy was the last surviving member of the Mayo starting team which defeated Meath in the 1951 final. Mick Loftus, who would later serve as GAA President, was a panel member, and is still alive.
Picture credit: Sportsfile
