FIFTEEN years after joining The Irish News as a fledgling reporter, Paddy Heaney filed his latest and last Against the Breeze column on Monday afternoon to focus on running his new gym in Maghera - and our readership would appear to be going through a grieving process for our erstwhile colleague. Come back soon, eh Paddy?
Former Irish News journalist ‘Gerry McLaughlin’ kicks off this weekend’s Off the Fence with an eloquent tribute to Paddy: “Tuesdays will just not be the same since we have no more ‘Into the Wind’," wrote McLaughlin.
"I remember you indeed as a ‘south Derry youth’ in The Irish News in the early 1990s, a clear-eyed, confident young man, ready for anything the world had to offer and never afraid to ask the hard question. Your column was always a breath of fresh air, concise and considered, sometimes very lyrical, but then an ounce of breeding is worth a ton of feeding.
“Slán Paddy, a chomrádaí, for you were never afraid to ruffle plumage, gently or sometimes otherwise. And your pieces on an old fisherman from around your own Maghera and on the great Maurice Fitzgerald of Kerry will be eternal. Don’t stay away too long.”
‘GAVIN’ has thrown down the gauntlet to Paddy in his new career: assist in guiding Watty Graham’s, Glen to a first ever Derry SFC championship. It’s a tough life.
“Paddy, just a short message to pay tribute to the column you have been writing for the last 15 years and to wish you luck for your next challenge. Your column always struck a chord with me and you were able to draw many parallels with my own footballing experiences.
“I think you are one of the main reasons why most GAA people began to read The Irish News from back-to-front. Good luck with your gym, which I am sure is already thriving.
“I have absolutely no reason to back up this assumption, but I cant help thinking that, with the timing of you opening the gym and Enda [Gormley] taking Glen seniors, that perhaps there will be a strength and conditioning link and you will both have a part to play in making history by delivering the first Derry SFC to the club.”
‘DERMOT from Tyrone’ casts aside one of the game’s most ancient rivalries to wish Paddy well - if the former Derry minor footballer’s gym doesn’t go according to plan, a new career as mid-Ulster peace ambassador beckons...
“You certainly gave many lifts with your words. Tuesday will just not be the same. I really did not see this one coming. You made me laugh at times, swear at times, fume at times, but the man who said ‘you got him’ is right - you got us too and you certainly have got it.
“I hope all goes well at your new station - your work deserves a bigger stage than south Derry... write that book to follow on from your earlier collections.”
THERE were also scores of well-wishers on Facebook and Twitter:
Antrim hurler ‘Neil McManus’: “I will really miss sitting down to read Against the Breeze on a Tuesday evening after the spuds. Slán go fóill, Paddy.”
‘Jarlath Burns’: “Today marked the end of an era in GAA reporting when we bade farewell to Paddy Heaney. A sad day.”
Tyrone-based online magazine teamtalkmag: “Best wishes to Paddy Heaney after his final piece in The Irish News today. Big loss to the world of GAA journalism.”
Club Tyrone member ‘Martin Haughey’: “Nice article by Paddy Heaney today. Hopefully it isn’t goodbye, just farewell for now.”
‘Michelle Cox’ from Omagh: “Paddy, you will be missed. My favourite reason for buying Tuesday’s Irish News. Good luck with your new venture.”
‘Damien Mallon’ from Armagh: “What a sad day for GAA lovers. Tuesdays in The Irish News will never be the same. Impossible to replace. True voice of the fan.”
‘Ronan McManus’: “Big loss to Irish News and GAA in general, unmissable for as long as I have been buying papers. Thanks Paddy.”
Donegal sports writer ‘Chris McNulty’: “Paddy Heaney filed his final column for The Irish News this week. One of the finest sporting wordsmiths in the land.”
‘Ulster Colleges’: “Good luck in your new venture, Paddy. Thanks from Ulster Colleges for your help throughout the years.”
‘Donal Gallen’: “A column that will be sorely missed. Analytical, yet told it how it was in a way that every Gael could relate to.”
‘Denzil McDaniel’ from Enniskillen: “I will miss Paddy’s column. Was always a great read and ‘a lift’. Good luck.”
‘Eugene Gallagher’ from Warrenpoint: “Your column was first class, you are a big loss to Irish News Sport #comebacksoon #topman.”
‘Gerard Treanor’: “Sad day Paddy. Always enjoyed your thoughts and your talent as a wordsmith. Despite being north Monaghan born and bred I could easily relate to the skirmishs and charachters of the GAA in Bellaghy, the Loup and the rest of south Derry. Didn’t know you were a nephew of the famous poet. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree it seems.”
‘Seán Higgins’: “Paddy, enjoyed your company in The Irish News and always looked forward to the Breeze on a Tuesday. Regards to the fabulous Mrs H.”
‘Dearbhla Curran’: “Sorry to have read this in today’s paper - a talented and witty writer who will be hard to replace on Tuesday’s.”
ANYWAY. You get the idea. In this week’s other big GAA news, Crossmaglen are Ulster champions for the gazillionth time, and ‘Football connoisseur’ (Pat?) has achieved footballing nirvana.
“Aaron Kernan has always been an exceptional player, but his game has reached a higher plateau since the advent of the Crossmaglen ‘kicking game’. Time was, Aaron would not have countenanced a full-blooded long ball kick, even as a last resort chasing a game in the dying seconds, such was the emphasis placed on ball retention.
“Fast-forward a few years and the mindset has changed. At every opportunity, he now stretches the play to maximum effect with raking, accurate 50-yard kick passes. Such is his precision, his personal stats for completed passes can’t have been compromised (colleagues who can make it ‘stick’ help). It’s great to watch and has brought a whole new dimension to his game, as has the odd more-speculative ball in.
“Hats off to the player himself and to the Crossmaglen management, going back to Tony McEntee, who have gone against the grain in promoting this refreshing style of play.”
AND the last word this week goes to ‘Desmond from Magherafelt’, who believes the prawn sandwich brigade isn’t merely a soccer phenomenon.
“Amid the hyperbole of ‘The Death of Football’ surrounding the All-Ireland series, I guess we found the response in the Club Championship. Ireland simply has too many naysayers who focus on the ‘main event’ rather than supporting their own club. Note how the usual soccer-bashing from the same crowd is based on the evidence of the prima donna Premiership.
“There needs to be more people investing in football by supporting their own club rather than simply consuming football on RTÉ/Sky Sports.”
