Paddy Reid RIP

Losty Dublin

Only saw mention of this today; Paddy was one of the Grand Slam team of 1948.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2016/0108/758754-paddy-reid/

Neil3030

Heard Woody talk about him on OTB ball during the week. What an unbelievable story. See if I can remember it all:

- Wins a grand slam in 1948
- Leaves to play league in England, it doesn't work out and he returns home
- Handed a 40 year ban from all rugby activity by the IRFU for playing league :eek:
- Returned to coaching in the 90s after his ban, having never lost his passion and love for the game
- Coached in Garryowen, where Woody had very fond memories of him

What a guy!

elperello

A legendary man.
He was held in great esteem by all the old school sports fans and he was a nice man into the bargain.

Losty Dublin

Neil3030 wrote: »

Heard Woody talk about him on OTB ball during the week. What an unbelievable story. See if I can remember it all:

- Wins a grand slam in 1948
- Leaves to play league in England, it doesn't work out and he returns home
- Handed a 40 year ban from all rugby activity by the IRFU for playing league :eek:
- Returned to coaching in the 90s after his ban, having never lost his passion and love for the game
- Coached in Garryowen, where Woody had very fond memories of him

What a guy!

Knowing how the IRFU wigs were, he'd probably still be banned had the game not gone professional

Snickers Man

Does anyone know if any of the 1948 team are still alive?

in particular, for anyone from Ulster, is Albert McConnell still with us? The ESPN website has a database of former players and consulting it for the Irish Grand Slam team it has dates of death for all of them except McConnell, a Collegians forward who played in all four Grand Slam matches in 1948 and would be 98 years old if still alive.

According to the data gleaned from the site, (I do this so you don't have to ) Paddy Reid was the last but one to die when he passed away in January 2016. Bertie O'Hanlon, another Munster three quarter died in September 2016. Both men were 91 at the time of death.

They weren't the longest lived. Mick O'Flanagan (died 2015) and Jimmy Nelson (died 2014) were both 92 when they passed away.

dregin

Snickers Man wrote: »

Does anyone know if any of the 1948 team are still alive?

in particular, for anyone from Ulster, is Albert McConnell still with us? The ESPN website has a database of former players and consulting it for the Irish Grand Slam team it has dates of death for all of them except McConnell, a Collegians forward who played in all four Grand Slam matches in 1948 and would be 98 years old if still alive.

According to the data gleaned from the site, (I do this so you don't have to ) Paddy Reid was the last but one to die when he passed away in January 2016. Bertie O'Hanlon, another Munster three quarter died in September 2016. Both men were 91 at the time of death.

They weren't the longest lived. Mick O'Flanagan (died 2015) and Jimmy Nelson (died 2014) were both 92 when they passed away.

Bertie O'Hanlon was the last to die, apparently - https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/obituary-bertie-ohanlon-last-surviving-member-of-irelands-1948-grand-slam-winning-team-425745.html

Snickers Man

Here it is then. The Roll of Honour of the 1948 Grand Slam team, none of whom are any longer with us.

Listed in order of their known dates of death. Interesting to note that the captain Karl Mullen was the youngest player on the team at only 21.

Hopefully, all enjoying the game they play in heaven in heaven.

Name Surname Position Opposition Date of Birth Date of Death Age at Death

Bertie O'Hanlon Wing F E S W 23/10/1924 25/09/2016 91
Paddy Reid Centre F E W 17/03/1924 08/01/2016 91
Michael O'Flanagan Centre S 29/09/1922 12/09/2015 92
Jim McCarthy Flanker F E S W 30/01/1926 20/04/2015 89
Jack Kyle Out Half F E S W 10/01/1926 27/11/2014 88
Jimmy Nelson Lock E S W 16/09/1921 13/06/2014 92
Colm Callan Lock F E S W 06/01/1923 30/05/2010 87
Karl Mullen Hooker F E S W 26/11/1926 27/04/2009 82
Des O'Brien Number 8 E S W 22/05/1919 26/12/2005 86
Jimmy Corcoran Prop F 14/07/1922 5/8/2002 80
Dudley Higgins Full Back F S W 20/05/1920 30/12/1999 79
John Mattsson Full Back E 16/07/1917 16/10/1999 82
Robert Agar Number 8 F 29/03/1920 23/4/1998 78
Bill McKay Flanker F E S W 12/07/1921 15/10/1997 76
Ernie Keefe Lock F 16/03/1919 30/11/1991 72
Chris Daly Prop E S W 12/12/1917 10/11/1988 70
Barney Mullan Wing F E S W Unknown 25/09/1986
William McKee Centre F E S W 27/08/1923 28/01/1982 58
Hugh De Lacy Scrum Half E S 20/11/1919 08/11/1979 59
Ernie Strathdee Scrum Half F W 26/05/1921 17/07/1971 50
Albert McConnell Prop F E S W 29/10/1919 Unknown

* Exact Date of Death unknown. Age accurate to within a year.

dregin

ESPN has a death date for Jimmy Corcoran - 5/8/02 - http://en.espn.co.uk/ireland/rugby/player/5010.html
Judging by this piece in the telegraph, Robert Agar died on 23/4/98 - https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/rugby-death-of-bob-agar-28312905.html