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IGB Awards For Paddy McCormack And Paddy Merriman

Wednesday, 4 March 2020 09:37

Offaly men recognised for services to Greyhound Industry

There were two Offaly winners at the Annual Irish Greyhound Board's annual awards which were held at the weekend.

Paddy Merriman from College Hill in Rhode collected the Special Merit Award, while Paddy McCormack who is also well known as an Offaly GAA legend was the 2019 Hall of Fame recipient. 

 

Citation for Paddy McCormack

Paddy McCormack, much like Bono, Sting and Pele, is as well known by his moniker as he is by given name. 

The “Iron Man from Rhode” is not just known in the greyhound community but throughout Irish sporting circles as a true legend.

One of the greatest Gaelic footballers of all time, Paddy was an integral part of the Offaly team for well over a decade after making his senior debut as a teenager in 1958. A corner back for much of his career, which included losses in the 1961 and ‘69 All-Ireland finals, he was moved to full back as the decade ended.

The subsequent two year period was the most successful in Offaly’s history as they captured both the 1971 and ’72 All-Ireland finals. It cemented Paddy’s place in history as one of the greatest sportsmen to ever emerge from Offaly.

It was soon after his second All-Ireland success that Paddy was really caught by the greyhound racing bug. A regular visitor to Mullingar dogs “with the lads”, he purchasing his first greyhound from Matthew O’Hanlon in 1973.

The name of that dog escapes Paddy but he must have left an impression as he has never been without a dog since. As in his football days, Paddy was a natural and he has now been training greyhounds to the highest standard for almost fifty years.  Along with his brother Brian and his great friend and ally, the late Tommy Leavy, Paddy had numerous good dogs in the early years. He remembers fondly the likes of Blue Paint and the prolific Laundry Queen. The latter weighed only 50lbs but Paddy says, “she knew how to win races”.

This century he has had some real stars under his care. The likes of Odile, Emdee Boys and, in recent times, Ripley Lad spring to mind, but his two stand out performers were flying bitches, Lolos Choice and Odette. To this day, Josie - Paddy’s “long-suffering” wife - keeps him on the straight and narrow, while he speaks with great pride of his five children, PJ, Francis, Geraldine, Joanne and Michelle and his twelve grand-children.

Paddy, who has also been a publican for almost fifty years, remains a great character and a joy to be around. He admits he has had a health scare or two in recent years but he still looks like he’d do a good job at full back. Offaly could certainly do with another in his mould.

Citation for Paddy Marriman

Paddy, who hails from Croghan Hill in the parish of Rhode, wasn’t born into greyhound racing but was a regular visitor to Mullingar track before buying his first greyhound in 1960. Wonder Biddy cost just £7 but it was the best money he ever spent.

As Paddy puts it, “I was only a young fella. She was a good little bitch but, at the time, I thought she was a champion”. When her racing days ended, she turned into a good brood and produced some very decent pups.

Some sixty years later, she remains responsible for Paddy’s successful career as a greyhound breeder and his operation continues, to this day, to produce countless winners. It has been a real family affair with Paddy’s wife Dolores and their children Gerry, Declan and Christina all involved.

Gerry and Declan remain heavily involved in the day to day running of the kennels which are based, as Paddy puts it, in a great area for rearing dogs. With plenty of space on offer, he says the dogs have room to roam, enjoy life while he stresses you need to feed them well.

Whatever they are doing at their Croghan Hill base, they are doing it right. Amongst the best dogs to pass through Paddy’s hands was Jokers Run, a finalist in both the Easter Cup and Derby in 2001. In recent years the fairer sex have provided them with many of their finest successes.

The likes of Blue Highview, Highview Beauty, Highview Dolly and Highview Horizon were all top class on the track and have subsequently been wonderful broods. To this day the Highview prefix is responsible for a fair share of winners at Shelbourne Park and that could remain the case for some time with Paddy admitting, “I’ll keep going as long as my health allows me”.

Who knows? A classic winner could yet emerge from the base of Croghan Hill. If that were to happen, there would be no shortage of greyhound folk in line wishing to congratulate the modest, softly spoken Paddy.

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