Patsy’s realisation of a dream
A long time ago, when I began teaching in Dublin’s northside, I threw my lot in with local GAA club, Parnells.
Parnells are located in the Coolock/Artane area of Dublin and as I was teaching in Cromcastle Green in Kilmore West and living in Artane. It was convenient and practical to join them.
Yours truly, and my great friend and teaching colleague Jimmy O’Grady, who still works there, introduced GAA to our school. We weren’t long “training” our little wonders when Parnells came to our rescue with footballs and jerseys. Naturally we got all the players to join Parnells and we finished up winning the Dublin League.
They were fine kids and very talented. Two people who gave us great assistance at that time were the trainer of Dublin’s All-Ireland winning team of 1963, Brendan Quinn. The other man who gave us great help was club chairman, Patsy Kiernan. Patsy was also the local milkman and a driving force behind Parnells. He pulled pints behind the club bar, and cleaned up when everyone was gone home.
When the old Garda Station in Coolock became vacant, Patsy and his colleagues purchased it and turned it into a clubhouse. The old Garda Station was located alongside Chanel College on Brookville Avenue. But Parnells had no pitches of their own.
Chanel College allowed Parnells to do winter training in one area of the grounds.
But with no grounds of its own and as Chanel College was not for sale, Parnells began to look elsewhere. When land became available close to Dublin Airport, Patsy ensured the club purchased it for £50,000. But the cost of development was prohibitive. Besides, Parnells were very firmly rooted in Dublin 5 and Patsy had a vision to develop there. Two things happened that had a dramatic impact on the fortunes of the ‘Nells.
Along came the Celtic Tiger and the cost of development land, especially around the airport, soared. With the decline in vocations, the Marist Order who owned Chanel College opted to sell. Patsy saw the realisation of a dream in prospect. They could sell the land at Dublin Airport, buy Chanel College and be made for life.
He sold the airport land for €22m. Having purchased Chanel College they have elaborate plans, to relocate back to their own area and develop a complex which will compare with Nemo, Mallow and Clonakilty. All down to the opportunism of Patsy, now the caretaker of Parnell Park, the Dublin County Board HQ.
I had the privilege of honouring Patsy with an Irish Examiner President’s Award in 2006.
Didn’t he deserve it?
