Kerry GAA expresses grief for Guatemala crash victim Patrick Curtin
The 26-year-old from Moyvane suffered serious head injuries while returning from work and had to be airlifted to a hospital in Miami after what parish priest Fr Kevin McNamara described as a “freak accident”.
Mr Curtin had moved to Guatemala in September and had been working for the Liebherr crane company. He was due home in March.
On confirmation of his passing, Kerry GAA issued a statement in which it said it learned of the news with “deep regret”.
Shocked to hear of the passing of young #Kerry footballer, Patrick Curtin. Sincere sympathy to his family, & to all in Moyvane
— Des Cahill (@sportsdes) December 29, 2015
“He played minor in 2006 and 2007, under-21 in 2009 and 2010, junior in 2009 and made his senior championship debut against Tipperary in 2012, having made his league debut earlier that year against Dublin.
“In all, Patrick made six championship and 10 league appearances for the Kingdom. Kerry GAA extends its deepest sympathy to his family, friends and work colleagues and also to his club, Moyvane.”
The chief executive of the Gaelic Players Association, Dessie Farrell, said: “On behalf of the county playing body I would like offer our sincere sympathies to the Curtin family, to Kerry GAA, the Moyvane club and to everyone associated with Patrick whose tragic loss has come as a terrible shock to the GAA community.”
Paddy Curtin goal v Donegal https://t.co/5hL4sIXLiP via @YouTube
— The Gaelic Game (@gaelicgame1884) December 29, 2015
Politicians and current and former inter-county players also paid tribute, as did Moyvane GAA, which wrote on its Facebook page: “Rest in Peace Paddy, Our Clubmate, Our Friend.”
Patrick’s father and one of his sisters had been at his bedside in recent days and Fr McNamara said local people were “numbed”.
“There is an ache in the heart that cannot be put into words or images,” he said.
