Paddy Dunne (Gaelic footballer)

Infobox GAA player |

name =Paddy Dunne
irish =Pádraig O Duinn
placeofbirth=Co. Laois
countryofbirth=Ireland
dob=?
dod=?
nickname=?
height=?
sport=Gaelic football
code=Football
county=Laois
province=Leinster
clposition=-centre half back
club=Park/Ratheniska
clyears=? -?
clapps(points)=?
clcounty=2
clprovince=1
clubs=Park/Ratheniska
counties=Laois
icposition=-Centre half back
icyears=10
icapps(points)=?
icprovince=?
icallireland=
allstars=
icupdate=
clupdate=
|

Paddy Dunne was a Gaelic football player from Park, County Laois in Ireland.

He played for many years on the Laois senior football team in the centre half back position and was widely regarded as one of the outstanding players in Ireland of the 1950's.

With his club Park, he was captain as they won two Laois Senior Football Championship titles in 1952 and 1953.

Called up the Laois team in 1949 following outstanding performances for his Club Park, Paddy was centre back on the Laois team who were narrowly beaten by Meath in the 1951 Leinster Football Final. He would still be there in his famous no 6 jersey when Laois suffered another agonising defeat in the 1959 Leinster Football Final.

He also played for his province Leinster, winning three consecutive Railway Cup medals in 1952, 1953 and 1954, all on the field of play. Only one other Laois player, Colm Browne, has managed to emulate this feat.

Dunne played for the Rest Of Ireland XV in 1953 and 1954. He retired from all football following the 59 Leinster final due to a recurring back problem.

A lasting tribute to Dunne's greatness in the famous blue & white jersey was his selection at centre half back on the Laois team of the millennium which was selected a few years back.

In 2007 Dunne was selected to be inducted into the Laois GAA Hall of Fame.

External links

* [http://www.parkratheniskagaa.com/index.php?page=paddy-dunne Interview with Paddy Dunne]
* [http://www.parkratheniskagaa.com Park/Ratheniska GAA Club Website]