Today marks the 10th anniversary of the passing of Kerry GAA legend Páidí Ó Sé, whose career in gaelic football, both as a player and manager, made him an icon on the game and of Irish culture.
As a player he won 8 All-Ireland titles and 11 Munster titles, while he also managed Kerry to two All-Irelands and lead Westmeath to a famous Leinster Championship title in 2004.
Tributes have poured in on social media and in newspapers, both in print and online.
Some of the best have come from his old teammate Eoin Liston, former Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice, and Denis Glennon whom he managed with Westmeath.
Tributes To Paidí Ó Sé
10 years RIP pic.twitter.com/RvjrZdkFcD
— Eoin Liston (@EoinListon) December 15, 2022
Páidí Ó Sé 💚💛#WeAreKerry #CiarraíAbú pic.twitter.com/MT9V6tLhKH
— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) December 15, 2022
On the day Denis Glennon scored 10 points from play for Westmeath, he received a phonecall from his manager Páidí Ó Sé saying he'd been dropped from the panel.
Here's the genius of Páidí at work. Amazing story of Páidí's mind games. pic.twitter.com/Xz471N42RO— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) December 15, 2022
How lovely to remember Páidí Ó Sé 10 years on.
For 'All-Star Gazing' his nephew Tomas told us how Páidí waited a while to win his 1st All-Star, then won 5 in a row (from '81-'85). His nephew Darragh shared a special memory about Gregory Peck, an Oscar trophy & a hot day in LA! pic.twitter.com/raZsuYSsme— allstargazing (@allstargazing50) December 15, 2022
READ HERE: 'I Scored 0-10 From Play, He Rang That Evening To Drop Me' - How Páidí Ó Sé Drove Westmeath To Glory
Eamonn Fitzmaurice: "I was so privileged to follow in his footsteps later as Kerry manager, and I often thought of him. Shortly after my appointment a handwritten letter arrived in September 2012, wishing me luck but also advising me of the importance and responsibility of the role.
"It was an honour to get that letter from him, and while in general I don’t do nostalgia I framed it. I have no regrets from my time in charge but I regret not getting back to see him that Autumn of 2012, as I intended, to thank him in person for the letter and the gesture.
"Never meet your heroes they say. I met mine and I still miss him."
Denis Glennon: "Páidí was excellent in the dressing room. Once he started to speak, you could hear a pin drop. The first thing he says to you is 'lads, I've won eight All-Ireland medals'.
"People may say that is egotistical or whatever, but that's the mentality that man had.
"Like, whoever heard of 'a grain of rice will tip the scale' or 'you got thrown over the line like you'd grab a loaf of bread'?
"The stuff seemed stupid, but you started to think about it at the same time. If a lad said 'you didn't do that well', you wouldn't think about it again. He used certain words that would mentally stick in your head and bring the best out of you."
SEE ALSO: '8 Medals In The Biscuit Tin': Páidí Ó Sé, The Man And The Myth
