Cliches are often an unavoidable occupational hazard in this line of business and here is one exact such example. It’s very seldom the occupant of this seat is struggling for words but that is exactly what has matters stumped at this point. Shock, heartache and utter disbelief has engulfed the old home town once again since world filtered through on Sunday evening of the sudden and untimely passing of Paul Fitzpatrick.
The haunting reality of life really gives you a boot in the solar plexus when you start laying people your own age to rest. That was and is the case here for me with Paul. Or Trigger as he was known to most far and wide. A few months older than me – how many exactly I’m not sure – but our lives have more or less always ran shotgun to one another.
From school to sport to frequenting certain business premises in the locality. We may as well start with the school though. Aside from recognising the fact that – even from Primary School age – it was clear he was an extremely gifted footballer, knowing that Paul was one of a large cohort from Dunboyne in Maynooth Post Primary at the time I was due to start over there was a huge source of comfort for me.
Of course, the world works in mysterious ways and, by the time what would have been start time over the border in Kildare, St Peter’s College had opened here so it made sense to stay local. Or so it seemed. If I knew then, what I know now I would have held my ground and stayed on course for the land of the Lilywhites.
Cest La Vie. Thankfully, Trigger was never far from my radar as the now fabled left boot became an integral part of many Dunboyne success stories in both GAA and Soccer.
Indeed, in one of the countless tributes which have poured in since the devastating news of his death broke, one of the stalwarts of Dunboyne AFC recorded the fact that Paul’s name is forever etched into the history of their club as, I think, the first player in the club to score in an SFAI Cup match.
From a GAA perspective, in Trigger’s case it always seemed to be a matter of what might have been. With him being a sub on the first Dunboyne ensemble to win the Meath Primary Schools title in November of 1991. He was also held in reserve when we contested the Minor Football Championship Final of 1996 and the League equivalent at the same grade the following season.
In fact, regarding the latter fixture, there’s a tale of two free takers which has now gone into the locals annals. Except in the humble estimation of yours truly, there should have a third spoke in that wheel. The Trigger could very easily have been pulled with the scoring chance in question.
However, it played out that the man who had been the team’s regular place kicker from left footed territory throughout the campaign up to that point was left in charge thereof. As of course should have been the case. But if there was to be an alteration regarding such matters, Paul Fitz should have been the only one even considered.
Especially as the GAA wasn’t the nanny-state, watered down mess it is today. Mind you, supposedly intelligent people failing to see what I could in terms of his natural football ability worked out extraordinarily well for myself and Ray Mitchell and Vinny Maguire who were looking after the club’s third team.
For reasons best known to those who were looking after the first and second teams, Trigger was still available to us. As a result of which we ended up winning two league titles with none other than he of the cultured left boot being among our greatest score getters.
All of which eventually, belatedly led to him getting his breakthrough on the club’s senior team. After what was the original running order of events went off the rails and none other than Sean Boylan was drafted in to steady the ship. Now, two other teams in our group ended up pulling a fast one between them which resulted in our lads not qualifying for the knockout stages. But there was no doubting what the big story in town was from a Dunboyne perspective.
Namely, P. Fitzpatrick scoring 2-5 against Gaeil Colmcille and 1-3 against Simonstown Gaels. The upshot of which left me somewhere between upset and angry. Allow me to explain.
How or why Paul never got a look in with a Meath team at any level I will never understand, but most especially that year. I’d have my own ideas as to why such was the case and if it was anywhere along the right lines it would be a very raw deal indeed as it was for at least one more Dunboyne player who fell into the same bracket.
It’s probably just the natural turn of events that there are some players who you just drift out of touch with when their playing days end, and, while that was the case with Paul and I in one way, it was never any more than short term.
Between him serving for many years in at least one watering hole in the locality and, in more recent years, owing to his standing as an electrician of great repute locally and beyond.
It is that very point which brings me to one of the other myriad tributes paid to Paul since Sunday last. I won’t mention names, but if you know, you know.
They were the reflections of a woman whose husband suffered a prolonged period of ill health prior to his passing. The circumstances of which necessitated an amount medical equipment to be in working order all the time and in a development that will surprise absolutely nobody who knew him, Paul was always there when needed. Time of day or night made no difference. That was Trigger to a tee. Helpful and obliging in the good old fashioned sense of those words.
But above all else a loyal and treasured friend. My deepest sympathy to Paul’s partner Emily, his children, to Gerry, Phyllis, Edel and Emma and the extended Fitzpatrick and O’Toole families.
Sleep easy Trig, there’s no measuring the hole your passing has left in the lives of so many. But the mark you have left on those lucky enough to have crossed your path will live on forever.
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