Profile: Paddy Campion

Paddy Campionthe club's first Honorary President.

Paddy Campion became the club’s first Honorary President in 1943, the year Portlaoise won its second senior hurling title. He scored a vital goal when Laois won its only All-Ireland senior hurling final in 1915. A Rathdowney man, Paddy came to the Town in 1933 and immediately threw in his lot with the local club. He soon became chairman and directed the club through many of the lean years of the 1930s and ‘40s. He was one of those great supporters who reformed Portlaoise GAA in 1949 and from thence it prospered. Paddy was also closely associated with the local CYMS and Boxing Club and was vice-chairman of Laois GAA for a number of years, a position he held at the time of his death in 1957. Two of his sons, Ned and Hugh, played with Portlaoise. Ned was a mentor and delegate for many years and Hugh went on to become chairman of Kildare GAA.

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The Town

Portlaoise sporting legend and author Pat Critchley describes his time playing with The Town and what the Town means to him. From his 2008 book “Hungry Hill”

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The Game That Changed History

After fifty seven years, Portlaoise finally regained the championship trophy with a narrow victory over Graiguecullen, 1 – 5 to 0 – 7, the first title in the grade since 1907.

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Profile: Tommy Conroy

Tommy Conroy has been a stalwart of Portlaoise GAA throughout his life. He played senior football for the town for 17 years, winning six county championships as well as a Leinster title in 1987. He made his name when he broke onto the great town team of the 80’s with Colm and Gerry Browne, Curly and co still setting the standard. He soldiered through the barren years of the ‘90s and then a golden generation of new stars arrived like Ian Fitzgerald, Martin Delaney, Woolly, Fitzy etc and gave an an ageing sportsman a new lease of life. Here are some of his personal memories of the club.

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