Paddy Grace
Encyclopedia
Paddy Grace was a famous Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Dicksboro
and with the Kilkenny
senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1950.
with his local Dicksboro
, a club that his father helped to found in 1909. He enjoyed some success and captured a senior county title in 1950.
minor hurling team in the early 1930s. He won a Leinster
title in that grade in 1935 before later capturing an All-Ireland
medal following a victory over Tipperary
in the final. Grace later made his way onto the county's senior panel and made his debut in 1939. That year he won a Leinster
title in the top grade of inter-county hurling before later lining out in his first senior championship decider. The 1939 All-Ireland final between Cork and Kilkenny has gone down in history as the ‘thunder and lightning final'. Played on the day that World War II
erupted, the climax of a very close game was played in a tremendous thunderstorm. Kilkenny went on to win the game by a single point, giving Grace his first All-Ireland
medal at senior level.
In 1940 Kilkenny defeated Dublin
giving Grace a second Leinster title. He later lined out in his second successive All-Ireland Final where Limerick
provided the opposition. After a close game it was the Munster men who emerged victorious. Kilkenny were disqualified from the championship for the next few seasons due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
in the county. ‘The Cats’ bounced back in 1945 and Grace collected a third Leinster medal. Kilkenny later faced Tipperary
in the All-Ireland final, however, victory went to Tipp on that occasion. In 1946 Grace won a fourth provincial medal following an exciting game against Dublin. Cork provided the opposition in the first meeting of these two counties since the famous 1939 final. Cork scored two goals just before half-time and added five more in the second-half to seal the victory. In 1947 Grace won a fifth Leinster medal and lined out in his fifth All-Ireland final. It was Kilkenny’s third championship decider in-a-row and, after losing the previous two, the pressure was on as no team has ever lost three successive All-Ireland finals. The game itself has been regarded by many as the greatest hurling final ever. Both sides remained neck and neck, however, a Terry Leahy
point sealed a narrow victory for Kilkenny giving Grace his second All-Ireland medal. In spite of continuing to play until 1950 this was Grace’s last big occasion in Croke Park
.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He played in four Railway Cup finals in all, however, he ended up on the winning side on only one occasion in 1941.
. He served as secretary of the Kilkenny County Board
for a record 38 years.
Paddy Grace died on 21 July 1984.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Dicksboro
Dicksboro GAA
Dicksboro is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Kilkenny, Ireland.-History:Dicksboro GAA Club, founded in 1909, takes its name from a townsland about one mile west of the city on the Ballycallan road...
and with the Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1950.
Club
Grace played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local Dicksboro
Dicksboro GAA
Dicksboro is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Kilkenny, Ireland.-History:Dicksboro GAA Club, founded in 1909, takes its name from a townsland about one mile west of the city on the Ballycallan road...
, a club that his father helped to found in 1909. He enjoyed some success and captured a senior county title in 1950.
Inter-county
Grace first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the KilkennyKilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
minor hurling team in the early 1930s. He won a Leinster
Leinster Minor Hurling Championship
The ESB Leinster Minor Hurling Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council...
title in that grade in 1935 before later capturing an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
medal following a victory over Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
in the final. Grace later made his way onto the county's senior panel and made his debut in 1939. That year he won a Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
title in the top grade of inter-county hurling before later lining out in his first senior championship decider. The 1939 All-Ireland final between Cork and Kilkenny has gone down in history as the ‘thunder and lightning final'. Played on the day that World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
erupted, the climax of a very close game was played in a tremendous thunderstorm. Kilkenny went on to win the game by a single point, giving Grace his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal at senior level.
In 1940 Kilkenny defeated Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
giving Grace a second Leinster title. He later lined out in his second successive All-Ireland Final where Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
provided the opposition. After a close game it was the Munster men who emerged victorious. Kilkenny were disqualified from the championship for the next few seasons due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
Foot-and-mouth disease
Foot-and-mouth disease or hoof-and-mouth disease is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovids...
in the county. ‘The Cats’ bounced back in 1945 and Grace collected a third Leinster medal. Kilkenny later faced Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
in the All-Ireland final, however, victory went to Tipp on that occasion. In 1946 Grace won a fourth provincial medal following an exciting game against Dublin. Cork provided the opposition in the first meeting of these two counties since the famous 1939 final. Cork scored two goals just before half-time and added five more in the second-half to seal the victory. In 1947 Grace won a fifth Leinster medal and lined out in his fifth All-Ireland final. It was Kilkenny’s third championship decider in-a-row and, after losing the previous two, the pressure was on as no team has ever lost three successive All-Ireland finals. The game itself has been regarded by many as the greatest hurling final ever. Both sides remained neck and neck, however, a Terry Leahy
Terry Leahy
Sir Terry Leahy is a former CEO of Tesco, the largest British supermarket chain.He lives in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, with his wife, Alison and his three children.- Early life :...
point sealed a narrow victory for Kilkenny giving Grace his second All-Ireland medal. In spite of continuing to play until 1950 this was Grace’s last big occasion in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
.
Province
Grace also lined out with LeinsterLeinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He played in four Railway Cup finals in all, however, he ended up on the winning side on only one occasion in 1941.
Post-playing career
In retirement from playing Grace became involved in the administrative side of the Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
. He served as secretary of the Kilkenny County Board
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
for a record 38 years.
Paddy Grace died on 21 July 1984.