It is with a sense of tremendous loss and sadness that Clonliffe Harriers learned of the passing this morning of the legendary Padraig Keane. Padraig was one of the Clonliffe greats. A Clonliffe lifer who has been with Clonliffe since he arrived from Co. Roscommon in the early days of 1970. He was one of the mainstays of Clonliffe Cross Country teams throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Padraig was a real cross country runner, he first tasted success winning the national Junior Cross Country title in 1971 and leading the Clonliffe team to the national Junior title. He was a member of the great Clonliffe senior teams throughout the 1970s and early 1980s winning national team titles on the country for Clonliffe in 1976, 1977 and 1982. Lar Byrne famously described Padraig as being the ‘fastest hedgehog’ in cross country. Padraig also received international honours representing Ireland at the World Junior Cross County in 1971 and at the World Senior Cross County the following year and again in 1977 and 1982.
When Padraig’s athletics career was at an end he continued to serve Clonliffe Harriers serving on many committees and indeed was club captain in 1991.
Padraig was also a great story teller regularly holding court over a pint in the Clonliffe bar ready to engage all comers in healthy debate commencing with: “Now, do you know what I`m going to tell you!”
Padraig will be very sadly missed by all in Clonliffe Harriers and the club sends out our deepest condolences to Padraig’s family who are all very closely associated with Clonliffe and his wide circle of friends in Irish athletics. He was a man who in the black and amber of Clonliffe always ran true to the club’s motto ‘nil desperandum’.
(Arrangements: Padraig will be reposing at his home tomorrow (Wednesday) from 3.00pm. Funeral to Glasnevin Crematorium after 12.00 mass in the Church of St. Cronan, Brackenstown on Thursday )