Paddy McGleenon remembered as ‘great Armagh Gael’ after passing aged community figure

The Armagh GAA community is mourning Paddy McGleenon, a former North Armagh GAA Board secretary whose work supporting young players continued for more than three decades.

Originally from Tassagh and later Lurgan, Mr McGleenon died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, after a period of illness. His death on Tuesday has prompted tributes from friends, clubs and fellow Armagh Gaels, who described his influence on Gaelic games as lasting for many years.

Mr McGleenon was also remembered for his career as an air traffic controller. Close friend Gerry Cunningham, chair of Clonmore Robert Emmetts GFC and a member of More Power to Your Elbow, said his friend had been devoted to Armagh and Gaelic games.

A lifetime supporting young players

Mr Cunningham said he first met Mr McGleenon when he was secretary of the former North Armagh GAA Board. The organisation was later merged with the mid and south boards into an all-county structure.

He recalled Mr McGleenon as meticulous in his administrative work, including taking minutes, advising on sensitive matters and helping find solutions during difficult debates. He said his friend never showed favour and instead offered reasonable answers to situations that could appear impossible.

Mr McGleenon later approached Mr Cunningham about coaching the North Armagh under-14 development squad. Mr Cunningham accepted, beginning a 23-year association in which Mr McGleenon led the programme for 12 years before ill health forced him to step back.

According to the tribute, Mr McGleenon arrived early every Wednesday evening and Sunday morning with the equipment needed for training. He organised pitches, told clubs where games would take place, managed player information and arranged inter-county and county matches.

“He was an Armagh man through and through. I used to laugh and say, ‘Pat, you bleed orange’. And so he did, he definitely did,” Mr Cunningham wrote.

The tribute also recalled the pride Mr McGleenon felt when the development squad won the Burren tournament after beating the teams of County Louth in the final. Later, coffee-shop meetings replaced time on the football pitch, where Mr McGleenon, Mr Cunningham and Tommy Rodgers would discuss the state of Gaelic games.

Tributes from clubs and friends

Mr Cunningham described his friend as having a quiet presence: someone who spoke when necessary, contributed when needed and judged no one. He said Mr McGleenon’s advice and understanding had made him a trusted figure in North Armagh GAA.

The friends also shared in the celebrations after Armagh’s All-Ireland win in 2024. They took particular pride in counting the young players on the winning team who had passed through their coaching programmes.

Pearse Og GFC in Armagh described Mr McGleenon as “an esteemed Gael” and offered condolences to the McGleenon family. Another social-media tribute called him “a man of great visionary for the development of Gaelic games and youth development in North Armagh”.

A family member remembered him as “the nicest, kindest man with a heart of gold”, adding that he would be missed terribly.

Mr Cunningham said Mr McGleenon’s contribution formed part of a wider Armagh GAA legacy, alongside other respected figures who had inspired younger generations to give their time to club and county football.

Funeral arrangements

A death notice described Patrick, known as Paddy, as the beloved husband of Nuala, father of Cormac and Conor, and grandfather of Nadine, Jamie, Ciara and Sé. He was also remembered as the loving son of the late Patrick and Elizabeth McGleenon of Armagh, and as a brother, brother-in-law and uncle.

The family home and wake are strictly private and for family only.

Mr McGleenon’s funeral will take place on Friday, leaving the family home at Blair Drive in Lurgan at 1.15pm for Requiem Mass at 2pm in St Peter’s Church, Lurgan. He will then be buried in St Colman’s Cemetery.

Mr Cunningham offered his sympathy and prayers to Nuala and the wider McGleenon family, signing off his tribute with the words: “Farewell Patrick McGleenon, one of life’s true gentlemen. To his good wife Nuala and all the McGleenon family circle, I offer my deepest sympathy and prayers at this difficult time.”