The sad news was confirmed earlier today of the death yesterday of Paddy Prendergast, who was the last surviving member of the Mayo team that secured back-to-back All-Ireland Championship titles in 1950 and 1951. He was 95 years of age.
A native of Ballintubber, Paddy Prendergast first played inter-county football with Donegal, as he was stationed as a Garda in Dungloe at the time. He made his debut in the Green and Red in his customary full-back position in the Connacht SFC against Leitrim in June 1948, a match played in Sligo.
Paddy went on to make 57 Senior appearances for the county – 27 of them in the Championship – in an inter-county career that lasted until 1956. Most of these were at full-back in which position he played with such distinction, including in the All-Ireland final wins over Louth in 1950 and Meath in 1951. He also played in the ‘big wind’ final of 1948 when the county lost out by a single point in controversial circumstances to Cavan.
Paddy moved to Tralee in the Sixties and he lived there for the remainder of his long life. With his passing, Dr Mick Loftus – the former President of the GAA – is the sole surviving member of the 1950/1 panel.
Condolences to Paddy’s family and friends on their sad bereavement. May this giant of football in Mayo rest in peace.
We should put the mayo flags out again for the week to honor him
RIP Paddy. What a shame that you did not see a Mayo team lift sam once more since 1951.
Sad day for mayo football. RIP paddy
Condolences to Paddy Prendergast wife and family.. RIP Paddy.
Sad day for all us gaels. My sympathies to his family and friends RIP paddy
Condolences to his family A Mayo GAA legend has passed. Beannacht De lena anamh dilis. Bron ar an mbas!
My condolences to the Prendergast family. God rest his soul.
RIP Paddy Prendergast may you rest in peace. Power house at full back for Mayo & a true gentleman.
It is a sad day indeed, for Mayo football and for everything that this wonderful man achieved. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends and all who knew and loved him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
Maigheo go deo.
R. I. P. Paddy. A great man by all accounts
Rest in Peace you will be remembered very positively.
My God, my God, how paddy hasn’t seen the Mayo team lift the Sam, even once, in Three Al Ireland’s that him self played in, 48,50,51. And lived to such a great age, after all the football he played. May God rest him in peace,
Thoughts and prayers to his Family and Friends who knew and loved him
The Prince of fullbacks. May he rest in peace.
I was lucky enough to see him play in Croke Park in 1955. Two quarter-finals (Mayo v Dublin and Cavan v Kerry) ended in draws. We lost the replay.
Paddy was marking Kevin Heffernan and one sight indelibly imprinted on my mind was to see Paddy jump, and soar above K.H. in a “fetch” we vainly aspired to.
R.I.P Paddy prendergast you will go down in Mayo gaa history for centuries to come.
Anyone have any reports on the club games on who done well individual wise
Would cillian finn from kiltimagh be worth a look at for mayo?Seems like a very skillful player
Also adam barrett from kilmaine has a great eye for the posts
Lovely post and a wonderful memory, Pat Keeley. Thanks for sharing with us.
My sincere condolences to all the Prendergast family. RIP Paddy.
Rest in peace paddy,its a pity you didnt see mayo win all Ireland….condolences to the family.
RIP Paddy- I have the Mayo flag flying tonight in south Mayo in your Honor.
He was a great character with a zest for life and he enjoyed every minute of it.
One of my first memories relating to Mayo football as a 7 year old, is of seeing a photo of Paddy P fetching a ball in the all Ireland final of 1950 on the wall of a local pub. I was told by my father that it was Paddy Prendergast our famous fullback who was in the photo. I felt even then he was a part of Mayo that should be treasured forever…..I still feel that today.
RIP
in 1955 i hadnt started going to matches but i remember listening to the mayo v dublin simi final , there was no quarter finals that time , remember listening to michael ohehir describing the great battle between paddy prendergast and kevin heffernan two giants of the game but paddy came out on top . it was a draw mayo 1-4 to 0-7 dublin won the replay 0-9 to 0-8 . JIMMY CURRAN got all mayos scores. in goal for mayo was OWEN ROE O’NEILL and for dublin was PADDY FLAHERTY . just a few memories, and to finish PADDY PRENDERGAST will be for ever a mayo legent. R.I.P. PADDY.
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RIP Paddy, may you have a special place in Heaven with your deceased loved ones and your Mayo friends and teammates.
Tks Pat for bringing us back to your memories of Paddy playing in 1955. Sounds like a true Mayo legend. Sad times.
RIP Paddy.Never saw you play but heard lots about you. Always came across well in interviews in recent years. Amazing to think he hasn’t seen us win Sam since he himself played.
RIP Paddy, always proud of you as a man of Mayo and the GAA
RIP Paddy Prendergast, a true legend of Mayo football who will never be forgotten.
Rest in peace Paddy Pendergast. Mayo GAA legend . Gentleman. Proud Mayo man.