The third episode of RTE's series 'Legacy' focused on Paidi O'Se. Most of the programme covered ground traversed by the TG4 documentary on O'Se.
However, there was a nice morsel from the legendary post-All-Ireland tours that Kerry used to shoot off on after the latest All-Ireland win.
O'Se naturally assumed the mantle of entertainments manager on these trips. And for Eoin Liston's 22nd birthday he had a big shindig planned.
At the party, Liston was presented with a television. The presentation of the television was accompanied by speeches and tributes. The only problem: the television had been stolen from reception.
We must have been in America 40 times and he (Paidi) was entertainements manager. He'd always have the bath in the rooms filed with ice and water and beers in case we didn't get a late bar. For may 22nd birthday, I think it was, he'd a party arranged for me. I was presented with a small television and sure all the lads had done was taken it from reception down below. They made speeches and everything...
Elsewhere, the programme touched on the opening of his pub in Ventry in 1985. There were snags around planning permission. O'Se biographer Donal Keenan related how Paidi's old mucca Charlie Haughey, then leader of the opposition, 'advised' O'Se on his planning application.
The pub opened with a major hoopla. The Dublin footballers travelled down, musicians and actors were knocking around and the Fianna Fail leader arrived via helicopter (only way to travel) and officially opened the pub, pulling the first pint.
And the Dolly Parton clip was possibly the show's finest moment. Landing down in West Kerry some time in the earl 90s, Dolly was presented with Paidi's 1985 All-Ireland winning jersey. It is in safe hands.
Michael Moynihan of the Irish Examiner expressed his mystification at Dolly's presence in Ventry although Dolly told Miriam O'Callaghan on RTE Radio two years ago that she was visiting with her friend Walter Hagen, the owner of American airlines, who she says was from the area (we're not sure whether this means he was actually from Kerry or he had ancestors from there, presumably the latter).
