Profile: Dr. Thomas F. O’Higgins

Dr. Thomas F. O’Higgins, who chaired the first meeting of Portlaoise GAA, in 1887

Dr. Thomas F. O’Higgins, who chaired the first meeting of Portlaoise GAA, in 1887. He was a popular G.P. in Stradbally for many years. He married Anne O’Sullivan who was daughter of T.D. O’Sullivan who was one time Lord Mayor of Dublin. He was murdered at his home outside Stradbally in 1923. One of their sons, Kevin O’Higgins, played a leading role in setting up the Irish Free State including the establishment of an unarmed police force. He took a hard line during the Civil War and retained more than one enemy. He was assassinated as he walked to Mass on Booterstown Avenue in Dublin in 1927.

More Club History To Explore

Profile: Tom Prendergast

Tom Prendergast was inducted into the Laois GAA Hall of Fame for 2021. Tom – affectionately known to us all as ‘Curly’ – is without doubt one of the finest players Portlaoise and Laois has ever seen.

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Profile: Paddy Hasper Farrell

Paddy was a member of the Laois minor hurling team of 1934 that won Leinster honours and was pipped by a point by Tipperary in a farcical finish to the All-Ireland final which was kept going for over ten minutes of extra time until the Munster men got the winning score.

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