Well-known Glencolmcille man Paddy 'Beag' Gillespie celebrates 80th birthday

80-year-old Paddy 'Beag' Gillespie celebrated his 80th birthday in style on Saturday watching his beloved Naomh Columba beat neighbours Ardara in their league Division Two clash as his side maintained their drive for promotion back to the top flight next season.

But truth be told the team were playing their hearts out for their beloved club stalwart, a birthday present with a difference you might say.

When it comes to describing Paddy ‘Beág’ Gillespie you have also to add ‘colourful’ because not only is he a hard-working club man and a character he is also a man who likes to get things done!

Paddy Beág can capture a room with his quick wit and infectious humour and has, down the years, brightened up many a gathering. He is one of the great characters in Donegal GAA and has been for many a long year.

He is known the length and breadth of the county and even much further afield.

Born in Downhill in Derry in 1943, his father John Gillespie (Brianie) from Doonalt, Glencolmcille was a driver with the US forces based in Ballykelly, Derry, during the Second World War. His mother was Bridget O’Donnell from Meenaneary. They had first emigrated to Scotland.

After the war ended the family moved back to Cashel, Glencolmcille, when Paddy was three and he attended Cashel National School.

A love of country and pride in the parish attracted Paddy ‘Beág’ to the GAA from an early age.

He has served his club at many levels over six decades from player to official to team management. He also falls into the category of those great stalwarts who have done everything from cutting the grass, to lining the pitch, to manning the biscuit tin on match days, to fighting the club’s corner at the county board.

The Naomh Columba senior men and management pictured with club president Paddy Beag Gillespie who celebrated his 80th birthday on Saturday after their win away to Ardara in the league

A forward who knew no fear, he played for Naomh Columba, Kilcar and the Tir Chonaill Gaels and Round Towers clubs in London when he was domiciled in the English capital for over a decade in the 1960s.

He also played Leinster Colleges football and hurling during his years in the secondary school in Ballinakill, County Laois. Paddy played on for a good few years but a broken leg in a club game had an effect and at just 27, Paddy Beág’s best playing days were behind him.

From 1970 onwards Paddy’s association with Naomh Columba also turned to off the field activities.

Between 1970 and 1996 Paddy was an active member of the club executive including serving as chairman on seven occasions and secretary on four occasions, while also serving as assistant secretary on the Donegal County Board in 1988.

He was involved as the club reached three successive junior finals in 1972, ’73 and ’74. They lost to St Naul’s and Termon before defeating Cloughaneely in ’74, with Paddy ‘Beag’ as manager. He was a selector in 1990 when Naomh Columba last won the Donegal SFC. Paddy Beág also managed Naomh Columba to the first of their two All-Ireland Senior Comórtas Peil na Gaeltachta titles in 1978

A Gaeilgoir, Paddy Beág also has a deep interest in the Irish language and culture and participated and promoted Scór in the club and was the member of the first Donegal winners of an Ulster Scór Sinsir in Trath na gCeist the early 1970s.

 Unfortunately, Paddy Beag and Naomh Columba missed out on an All-Ireland title when pipped by Ballygar, Galway, which had Galway four-time All-Ireland football winner Mattie McDonagh in the line-up. That All-Ireland final was in the RDS.

Paddy’s passion for the Irish language has always been evident within the club. He received a Diploma in Gaeilge from Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh in 2006 and is a local historian and a qualified tour guide.

In 2016, Paddy ‘Beag’ received a GAA President’s Award from then GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghaíl for his work in the promotion of the Irish language. He has also been honoured for his contribution towards the Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta competition. and is a past president of that body.

But to see his beloved Glencolmcille side win on Saturday, was the best birthday present ever!