Funeral of Kerry footballer Patrick Curtin takes place

Anne Lucey

The funeral has taken place in Co Kerry of the former inter-county footballer Patrick (Paddy) Curtin, who was killed last month in a car crash in Guatemala.

The 26-year-old electrician worked at the Liebherr Ireland crane factory in Killarney and he frequently worked abroad with the company.

The Church of the Assumption in Moyvane overflowed with an attendance of more than 1,000 people and the north Kerry village was decked in green and gold flags which are the colours of Moyvane as well as the Kerry team.

The 2015 inter-firm football cup won by Liebherr along with the North Kerry League Cup won by Moyvane, both of which Mr Curtin had had played a key role in, were on display.

Mr Curtin had played at all levels - minor, junior, under 21 and senior and made six championship and 10 league appearances for Kerry.

Seven priests celebrated the funeral mass.

Symbols of Mr Curtin’s life brought to the altar before mass by football and work colleagues included his club jersey and his Kerry league football medal won against Asdee in September and which had yet to be presented to him.

Sean Walsh, former Kerry GAA chairman and Munster Council chairman, said the death was felt “in the hearts bones and minds” of the people of north Kerry.

He assured the family - parents John and Eileen, sisters Linda and Evelyn and brother-in-law Adrian, that they were part of “the GAA family”.

Kerry football manager Eamon Fitzmaurice and former Kerry footballers including Minister for the Diaspora Jimmy Deenihan were among the mourners.

Mr Curtin was buried in Ahavoher Cemetery.