‘May Ventry sod rest lightly on this noble warrior and angels bear him to God’s happy playing field’

A republic this may be, but there was a royal funeral in Ventry yesterday — footballing royalty but royalty nonetheless, the funeral of Rí an Ríocht, Páidí Ó Sé.

From every corner of Ireland they came to pay tribute to a man who grew to epitomise all that is best in Kerry football — passion, skill, and toughness.

From near came the teammates of the ’70s and ’80s, that incomparable side that won eight All-Ireland titles. From nearer still came his club teammates from An Gaeltacht, and together they formed a guard of honour as the coffin was brought the short distance from Páidí’s family home in Ard a’ Bhothair to the stone-cut Séipéal Caitlíona Naofa.