Paddy Ruschitzko
Encyclopedia
Paddy 'Rusty' Ruschitzko (29 April 1917 - 4 March 2004) was an American
-born Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Clonad and was a member of the Laois
senior inter-county team from the 1930s until the 1950s. Ruschitzko captained Laois in their last All-Ireland
final appearance in 1949.
in 1917. The son of a Polish father and an Irish
mother, Ruschitzko was brought up in Bagenalstown, County Carlow
, where his mother brought the family on the death of her husband.
Ruschitzko was educated locally, however, the family later moved to Mountmellick
, County Laois
. It was here that his hurling skills were first noted. Ruschitzko, however, later emigrated to England
for a period. On his return he joined the staff of Irish Worsted Mills in Portlaoise. He ended up as manager of the mills and remained there until the firm's closure in 1973.
Paddy Ruschitzko died March 4, 2004.
, he starred on the Laois
minor team which was denied All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
glory in 1934 in the final, which Tipperary
won by one point after a long period of injury time.
In 1949, Paddy was captain of the Laois team which won the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
. Playing at left half back he marked the legendary Jimmy Langton and Laois scored a shock 4-5 to 2-7 win over a powerful Kilkenny
team.
In the All-Ireland semi-final, Laois defeated Galway 4-6 to 3-5, leaving Paddy to lead out his team in the All-Ireland final parade opposite his old school colleague, Pat Stakelum
, who was captain of the Tipperary team. Tipperary ran out easy winners but Ruschitzko's place in Gaelic Athletic Association
history is secure as Laois haven't won a Leinster title since.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
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 Clonad and was a member of the Laois
Laois GAA
The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.-History:...
senior inter-county team from the 1930s until the 1950s. Ruschitzko captained Laois in their last 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....
final appearance in 1949.
Biography
Patrick Ruschitzko was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1917. The son of a Polish father and an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
mother, Ruschitzko was brought up in Bagenalstown, County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, where his mother brought the family on the death of her husband.
Ruschitzko was educated locally, however, the family later moved to Mountmellick
Mountmellick
Other than that its a 15th-century settlement on the narrow Owenass river with an encampment on its banks at Irishtown. Overlooking this valley with its trees and wildlife was a small church called Kilmongan which was closed by the Penal Laws in 1640...
, County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
. It was here that his hurling skills were first noted. Ruschitzko, however, later emigrated to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for a period. On his return he joined the staff of Irish Worsted Mills in Portlaoise. He ended up as manager of the mills and remained there until the firm's closure in 1973.
Paddy Ruschitzko died March 4, 2004.
Club
With his club, Clonad, Ruschitzko won over 20 major honours and was part of the three-in-a-row team that won the Laois Senior Hurling Championship in 1946, ‘47 and ‘48.Inter-county
Having moved to live in MountmellickMountmellick
Other than that its a 15th-century settlement on the narrow Owenass river with an encampment on its banks at Irishtown. Overlooking this valley with its trees and wildlife was a small church called Kilmongan which was closed by the Penal Laws in 1640...
, he starred on the Laois
Laois GAA
The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.-History:...
minor team which was denied All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
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...
glory in 1934 in the final, which 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...
won by one point after a long period of injury time.
In 1949, Paddy was captain of the Laois team which won the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
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....
. Playing at left half back he marked the legendary Jimmy Langton and Laois scored a shock 4-5 to 2-7 win over a powerful 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...
team.
In the All-Ireland semi-final, Laois defeated Galway 4-6 to 3-5, leaving Paddy to lead out his team in the All-Ireland final parade opposite his old school colleague, Pat Stakelum
Pat Stakelum
Pat Stakelum was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Holycross-Ballycahill and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1947 until 1957. Stakelum captained Tipperary to the All-Ireland title in 1949....
, who was captain of the Tipperary team. Tipperary ran out easy winners but Ruschitzko's place in Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic 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...
history is secure as Laois haven't won a Leinster title since.