The legacy left by Longford's Paddy Reehill will stand the test of time

Going by the enormous volume of mourners who turned out to pay their final respects to Longford man Paddy Reehill just over a week ago, that standing could not have been any more obvious.

A devout family man and proud “townie” at heart, the 82-year-old was among a unique, but well respected generation of Longford stock whose values and appreciation for all things Longford town knew no bounds.

Born on April 29, 1941, Paddy was the second youngest of nine children to Tom and Mary Reehill.

Having set up home initially in Whiterock, the Reehills later moved to 7 St Mary's Terrace where the young and vivacious Paddy began stamp his mark on a town and community he would, in time, become a key staple of.

Tom Flood and Paddy Reehill at a Longford Town soccer match

One of his crowning glories would arrive in 1967 when he met the 'love of his life” and best friend Monica Heavey from Ardagh.
The couple would later go on to marry some two years later and raise five children from their home in Annaly Park.

Time then, and Longford town during the early to mid 1970s, was a vastly different one to its present day equivalent.

Not that any of that deterred Paddy as he provided for his family, courtesy of spells at Lyons Meat Factory and then through his unstinting years of service in the local textiles and security industries.

The latter, which Paddy himself dubbed as working as a “peacekeeper” saw him enjoy an unblemished 40 year career on the door of the Longford Arms Hotel and under the umbrella of its various nightclubs namely 'Blazers', 'Ra Ra' as well as the iconic 'Fountain Blue'.

That flawless level of service and dedication to his work saw Paddy enjoy similarly fruitful spells with Brendan Gilmore Security and at various GAA matches, concerts and political count centres over the years.

But just as enduring was Paddy's peerless renown as a boxer, later turned coach and greyhound trainer extraordinaire.

His lifelong friend and neighbour for nigh on 60 years, Christy Warnock, spoke of his “great buddy's” unerring ability to train and nurture greyhounds from mere novices to champion stakes contenders.

“My experience with Paddy was through the greyhounds,” he said.

Members of the Metatones who competed in the Longford Town Soccer League in 1961; Front row (left to right): Danny O'Hara, Francie Connolly, Paddy Reehill, Willie Jordan, Michael Quinn, Jerry Clyne. Back row (left to right): Sean Ghee, Pascal Quinn, Paddy Reilly, Lal Donlon and Harry Farrell

“I went around different dog tracks all over Ireland in the 1970s, 80s and 90s with Paddy. We went to the likes of Shelbourne Park, Galway, Harold’s Cross, Navan and Mullingar.

“You had to know when the dogs were ready muscular wise and you would bring them off to flapping tracks and you would run them with other dogs and put a timewatch on them.

“He would have all that down to a fine art.”

The former Longford Town councillor namedropped the likes of 'Toppin Man' and 'Yanka Louise', two leading greyhounds who were among a large cohort whom Paddy enjoyed success with over the years.

Well known owners such as the late Shroid man Pat Sullivan, Eamon O’Reilly and Frank Loughnane were equally just some of the large client book of industry heavyweights Paddy rubbed shoulders with throughout that time.

A broad and strapping figure in physical terms, Paddy's penchant for all things boxing was just as bountiful.

It's genesis would arrive when Paddy McNally of St Brigid's Terrace started coaching young boys on the Market Square in a fuel shed owned by Gill's Coal Merchants.

When Paddy's father died suddenly in 1964, Jack Keogh, a young detective came to Longford to replace him to take up the county town's boxing baton.

Alongside his brothers Tommy, Johnny and Gerry, the Reehill family name soon became etched in the sport's indelible history as Paddy competed at national level countrywide.

One of those who witnessed the inner workings of the father of five both inside and outside of the ring was fellow neighbour and friend Bernard 'Doc' Doherty.

“He was what you would call a very enthusiastic man,” said a reflective sounding Bernard.

The pair's sporting association flourished when Paddy assumed the coaching reins of Longford Boxing Club in 1980, training many including his own son, Gerry to boxing notoriety on the national and international stage.

“I was a coach myself, but Paddy had this way about him in being able to train young kids to not just box, but box well.

“There were times when a group of lads might be seen doing little or just talking on the street and the next week you would see them in the club with gloves on.

“Paddy was all about sport, he was someone who liked a good conversation, but it would always end up being about boxing.”

Bernard, in a more light-hearted remembrance of his dear friend, told of how Paddy might have reacted to the bravado and showmanship that greeted last weekend's heavyweight boxing clash between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.

“He wouldn't have been impressed with that at all,” joked Bernard. “That type of carry on never appealed to him.”

In a poignant twist and shortly before his health began to fade, Paddy's last stroll took him to see his life long friend and fellow Annaly Park neighbour Pat McGarry.

Another abiding acquaintance both in personal and professional life was former Longford Town councillor Tony Carberry.

A proficient and respected referee in his own right, Tony said the mark left by his close friend on Longford's sporting as well as societal fabric, would doubtlessly stand the test of time.

“I first met Paddy and his brother Gerry when I came to Longford and we struck up a very strong friendship,” recalled Tony.

“I was very interested in boxing and Paddy was determined to start a boxing club. We had a lot of young people in the town with no affinity to any sport and no positive outlet.

“Paddy knew the community very well, as he was from Longford whereas I was from Ballymahon.

“He had a passion for the local youths and dedicated his time to keeping them out of trouble and off the street.

“We worked together very well and we were very fortunate to meet Roger McCorley, commanding officer of Connolly Barracks and we told him we had the boys but no place proper to train them.”

The long serving former Fianna Fáil councillor said the move proved to be a “godsend” in allowing the club to thrive as its rising stars of tomorrow were provided with a platform to showcase their talent and to learn valuable life skills as well as discipline from a man they had the utmost “admiration and respect” for.

“One of Paddy's greatest achievements came in how he raised his son (Gerry) to become one of the most stylish boxers I have ever seen,” added Tony.

A passionate statement it may may have been, they were sentiments the former local politician sincerly underlined as he paid a last and moving tribute to his cherished friend.

“Paddy was such a dedicated, loyal friend, he had a fantastic sense of humour and a warmth about his character which won’t be forgotten,” he added.

They were touching remarks that were echoed at Paddy's funeral mass last Monday week by his eldest daughter Ann.

In an emotionally charged eulogy, she spoke of how “daddy was always proud of his family” and never more so than by the loving presence of his 13 grandchildren.

Hearty appreciation was reserved for all those who played a part in the funeral mass and for caring for Paddy in Mullingar's Midland Regional Hospital before his passing.

At the top of that long list was the role played by Paddy's wife Monica, who mourners were told “dedicated her life” to caring for the man she was married to for over 54 years.

The most touching tributes was arguably set aside for the man and son who worshipped the ground one of Longford's greatest ever ambassador's walked on.

Paddy Reehill with his son Gerry (left) 

“The biggest thanks of all goes to our brother Gerry who idolised daddy and cared for him unconditionally,” said Ann.

“They were the best of friends and we will only have to look at Gerry and we will see daddy for the rest of our lives.”

And that, just maybe, is the greatest testament and legacy that can be paid to the late, great and inimitable Paddy Rehill.

*The late Paddy Rehill, is survived by his loving wife and best friend Monica (Née Heavey), son Gerry, daughters Ann (Toher), Tricia, Mary (Lynch) and Martina (McGrath), daughter-in-law Claire, sons-in-law Tom, Mickey and Andrew, his thirteen adored grandchildren Tara, Aoife, Riane, Rhona, Maria, Aisling, Alex, Amber, Jack, Keeley, Tom, Gracie and Andrew, his brothers Tommy and Johnny, his sisters Esther Casey and Mary Thompson, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews and a large circle of friends.