Paudie Palmer funeral: 'Whether it was Junior C or a senior final, he brought the same joy'

"I don’t think he realised what it did for every community. The sense of pride he gave to those communities."

Members of the clergy walking in front as the remains of Paudie Palmer were shouldered from St. Mary's Church, Innishannon, following requiem mass, with a guard of honour by staff and students of St. Brogan's College, Bandon, and Valley Rovers and Templenoe GAA Clubs. Picture: Denis Minihane

From the altar of St Mary's Church, Innishannon, Fr Finbarr Crowley had the old argument with his friend Paudie Palmer one final time. He recalled one Saturday night, after saying Mass, when he tuned into C103 to hear how his beloved Bandon were getting on in a county semi-final. Paudie soon erupted in distinctive exhilaration at a goal for Bandon, but Fr Finbarr would be none the wiser, for some time, how relevant this was in the overall scheme of things.

“Just give us the score, Paudie.”