14 October 2011
When Antrim begin their round of National League games next year one very familiar, and very faithful Saffron will be missing from the terraces of Casement. Dedicated Antrim fan Paddy McGinley has lost his short battle with cancer, and died yesterday, 13 October.
Born in Andersonstown, Paddy spent his formative years playing with Gael Uladh and was a member of the famous Hogan Cup winning side from St Mary’s CBS in 1971.
After moving back from Manchester he settled in Antrim town becoming involved with St Comgalls GAC, and fans may remember his razor-sharp wit as expressed loudly & often from the side-lines at Casement. Paddy and his pals could often be heard providing a traditional music soundtrack to Antrim games, most notably in the Clones square in 2009 on Ulster Final day.
Throughout the 2011 season he was of assistance to the county when it came to research for programmes.
In 2008 he penned an anthology of life as Antrim fan, just after we missed out narrowly to Wicklow in the Tommy Murphy Cup final. This was published in the county yearbook and is reproduced on this site today as a tribute.
Paddy is pictured at the Newbridge football qualifier with Kildare.
