Profile: Paddy Critchley

Paddy Critchley at a function with Tipperary Hurling Legend Jimmy Doyle. Paddy and Jimmy worked together in the promotion of hurling in the town in the early 80’s.

Paddy Critchley figured on Irish Worsted Mills teams and won championship medals with Kilminchy at minor level in the 1940s and Park seniors in the early 1950s. Prominently involved with Portlaoise juvenile teams and structures in the 1970s and was a mentor with successful Portlaoise hurling teams of the 1980s. His sons Pat, Michael, John and Declan all played with distinction with the club winning many honours. Pat won an All-Ireland club football medal, captained Laois in the Centenary Hurling final in 1984 against Cork and is Laois’ only hurling All-Star. Declan is very involved in coaching under age teams.

More Club History To Explore

Profile: R.P. Fennell

Portlaoise has been blessed with having some really good administrators over the years.
In the early years there was R.P. Fennell, a man whose family and connections were
deeply rooted in the town and in the nationalist tradition.

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Profile: Paddy Bracken

Paddy Bracken was one of those Portlaoise footballers who
blazed the trail for the club in the 1950s when championship
wins were scarce and in the 1960s when winning became more
fashionable

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Profile: Jimmy Harding

Jimmy Harding was one of the clubs leading dual players.

He won football championships in 1976, 79, 81 and 82 and figured in the Leinster title win of 1977 and was part of the panel for the All-Ireland club win of 1983.

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