When Ireland qualify for a major sporting event the crowd goes ‘let’s visit the Credit Union’. In Kilkenny the call was see Paddy Kennedy and in latter years see the two Paddies, when Paddy Fry joined the staff at St Canice’s Credit Union. When you had a financial crisis or wanted to improve your life the Credit Union was your first port of call where Paddy was always willing to help, advise and sort out the financial implications. If you worked in the Credit Union numerous loan forms would have ‘see PK’ attached. This was an instruction to staff to consult with Paddy regarding a loan he would have invariably sorted for the member  with the Credit Committee for cars, holidays, furniture, a death etc. All human life passed through the Credit Union’s doors. The local branch of the Credit Union was founded by a group of St Canice’s parishioners aided by a group of trade union activists in Smithwick’s brewery operating on Saturday nights in the Butts Green in the St Vincent de Paul House. “It all began with a white Cortina” was the headline on an interview with Paddy by Enda McEvoy on his retirement. Paddy, then manager of Lipton’s, one of the major grocery stores in Kilkenny located at the corner of Friary Street (now part of Paul’s shop) usually travelled from his home in Assumption Place by bicycle. One day a lady told him as manager he should have a car. In 1960s Ireland most people purchased cars on hire purchase at an interest rate of 30%. Pat joined the Credit Union as member 306 and got his first car, a white Cortina at 12% and retained it for almost a decade. I can remember Pat, arriving on the dot of 9pm every Saturday like clockwork, on his way home from work making his weekly repayment. He was soon invited to join the Board in 1966. Brave decision In December 1968 the board decided to purchase 67 High Street and appoint a manager. It was a huge boost to the Credit Union and a very brave decision on Paddy’s part to leave his secure job with Lipton’s and throw in hisplaceholder image
When Ireland qualify for a major sporting event the crowd goes ‘let’s visit the Credit Union’. In Kilkenny the call was see Paddy Kennedy and in latter years see the two Paddies, when Paddy Fry joined the staff at St Canice’s Credit Union. When you had a financial crisis or wanted to improve your life the Credit Union was your first port of call where Paddy was always willing to help, advise and sort out the financial implications. If you worked in the Credit Union numerous loan forms would have ‘see PK’ attached. This was an instruction to staff to consult with Paddy regarding a loan he would have invariably sorted for the member  with the Credit Committee for cars, holidays, furniture, a death etc. All human life passed through the Credit Union’s doors. The local branch of the Credit Union was founded by a group of St Canice’s parishioners aided by a group of trade union activists in Smithwick’s brewery operating on Saturday nights in the Butts Green in the St Vincent de Paul House. “It all began with a white Cortina” was the headline on an interview with Paddy by Enda McEvoy on his retirement. Paddy, then manager of Lipton’s, one of the major grocery stores in Kilkenny located at the corner of Friary Street (now part of Paul’s shop) usually travelled from his home in Assumption Place by bicycle. One day a lady told him as manager he should have a car. In 1960s Ireland most people purchased cars on hire purchase at an interest rate of 30%. Pat joined the Credit Union as member 306 and got his first car, a white Cortina at 12% and retained it for almost a decade. I can remember Pat, arriving on the dot of 9pm every Saturday like clockwork, on his way home from work making his weekly repayment. He was soon invited to join the Board in 1966. Brave decision In December 1968 the board decided to purchase 67 High Street and appoint a manager. It was a huge boost to the Credit Union and a very brave decision on Paddy’s part to leave his secure job with Lipton’s and throw in his

Tribute - Well known Kilkenny businessman passes away

Sian Moloughney
By Sian Moloughney

Reporter

Published 3rd Jan 2025, 10:33 GMT

Former President and Treasurer John Knox remembers a man who was the public face of the CU

ABOVE: Appointed manager of the Credit Union in 1968, Paddy Kennedy oversaw many developments during his tenure St Canice’s spread the Credit Union gospel throughout Kilkenny, Carlow and Laois at meetings in Callan, Ballyragget, Bennettsbridge, Graignamanagh, Abbeyleix, Bagenalstown and Leighlinbridge. Usually under the leadership of Gus Murray, a the group of Paddy Kennedy and Paddy Power and myself, with others would attend at a venue and tell how Credit Unions worked. Gus was recognised by the League for this work. Later he was elected president of the Irish League of Credit Unions and became the first Irish president of the World Council of Credit Unions. One day Maureen Burke of Ballyragget sought to join St Canice’s but was ineligible. Soon afterwards a meeting was organised by Fr Grant for the Father Malone Hall. Paddy Kennedy, Gus Murray and I went out there. Afterwards the parish priest Canon Malone invited us to his house for refreshments, a rare occurrence. We were all perished and the Canon offered us some whiskey, which was most welcome. Unfortunately, as it was Lent Paddy had to reluctantly refuse; the one and only occasion we were offered alcohol! A man of steely determination, when he discovered one of his sons had started to smoke, he proposed they both give up the cigarettes for Lent. Paddy never smoked again, but continued annually to give up alcohol for Lent. A Glenmore man, Paddy went to school in Ballyfacey and won a scholarship to attend De La Salle Waterford. In his day there was no free education - you paid fees. He joined Lipton’s and having worked in several branches he was appointed manager in the Kilkenny branch. He quickly established Lipton’s as a great place to shop. Paddy was essentially a family man, and he met the love of his life Rita West in Kilkenny. They shared a love of dancing and were always first on the floor to face the music and dance. An accomplished snooker player, his first love was billiards, and he won many prizes locally and at diocesan level. A

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ABOVE: Appointed manager of the Credit Union in 1968, Paddy Kennedy oversaw many developments during his tenure St Canice’s spread the Credit Union gospel throughout Kilkenny, Carlow and Laois at meetings in Callan, Ballyragget, Bennettsbridge, Graignamanagh, Abbeyleix, Bagenalstown and Leighlinbridge. Usually under the leadership of Gus Murray, a the group of Paddy Kennedy and Paddy Power and myself, with others would attend at a venue and tell how Credit Unions worked. Gus was recognised by the League for this work. Later he was elected president of the Irish League of Credit Unions and became the first Irish president of the World Council of Credit Unions. One day Maureen Burke of Ballyragget sought to join St Canice’s but was ineligible. Soon afterwards a meeting was organised by Fr Grant for the Father Malone Hall. Paddy Kennedy, Gus Murray and I went out there. Afterwards the parish priest Canon Malone invited us to his house for refreshments, a rare occurrence. We were all perished and the Canon offered us some whiskey, which was most welcome. Unfortunately, as it was Lent Paddy had to reluctantly refuse; the one and only occasion we were offered alcohol! A man of steely determination, when he discovered one of his sons had started to smoke, he proposed they both give up the cigarettes for Lent. Paddy never smoked again, but continued annually to give up alcohol for Lent. A Glenmore man, Paddy went to school in Ballyfacey and won a scholarship to attend De La Salle Waterford. In his day there was no free education - you paid fees. He joined Lipton’s and having worked in several branches he was appointed manager in the Kilkenny branch. He quickly established Lipton’s as a great place to shop. Paddy was essentially a family man, and he met the love of his life Rita West in Kilkenny. They shared a love of dancing and were always first on the floor to face the music and dance. An accomplished snooker player, his first love was billiards, and he won many prizes locally and at diocesan level. A

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