THE town he loved and served so well will bid a sad final farewell to the late great Paudie O’Connor this Saturday.
The youngest ever Mayor of Killarney, he was a Fine Gael member on the Urban District Council from 1974 to 1985, serving as chairman on four occasions, in 1978, 1980, 1982 and 1984. He also served on Kerry County Council and he contested a Dáil election in the South Kerry constituency.
Paudie, originally from O’Sullivan’s Place, was Ireland’s first basketball superstar, the man who introduced brilliant American players to the domestic game, and one of the greatest players of all time who led his beloved hometown club, St Vincent’s, to a number national titles.
A former Dr Crokes and Kerry footballer, Paudie married Marti Mueller in Killarney in 1984 and, two years later, they moved to the US where their daughter, Morgan, was born. He operated a successful traditional Irish bakery in The Bronx, New York and later moved to Las Vegas, where he began a very successful golf tour business.
Paudie passed away, from natural causes, in Vegas on May 1, at the age of 66. Family and friends have already gathered there for an emotional funeral service in the Guardian Angel Cathedral which, as Paudie would have wanted, was followed by a celebration of life in his favourite Irish bar.
He is survived by his daughter, Morgan O’Connor-Mauro and her mother Marti, son-in-law, Marcello Mauro, grandson Luciano O’Connor Mauro; brothers, Seamus and Mike; sisters-in-law, Fidelma and Peggy; nephews, Patrick, Richard and Phillip, relatives and a large circle of friends.
A regular visitor back to Killarney with several US golfing visitors, now, poignantly, Paudie has come home for the last time and a funeral Mass will be celebrated in St Mary’s Cathedral this Saturday morning at 10.30am.
Guards of honour will be provided by many of his former basketball colleagues and on-court rivals as well as Dr Crokes GAA Club while the Killarney Municipal District Council will also be represented.
Afterwards, Paudie will make a final journey through the streets of the town he helped to put on the map for the interment of ashes in Aghadoe Cemetery.
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