FUNDS raised from the Paddy Fenning Walk soared past the €150,000 mark on Sunday as the Offaly footballers of 1971 paraded the Sam Maguire Cup once again. Fifty years to the day since they made the historic breakthrough by winning the county’s first ever senior All-Ireland title, the team reunited to honour their late teammate, who passed away last year after a stoic battle with motor neurone disease (MND). KEEP READING BELOW PICTURE AND TO SEE THE FULL GALLERY OF PICTURES CLICK ON NEXT ABOVE Pictures: Marie Kearns, Tullamore Camera Club; Alex Aubin, Tullamore Camera Club, Ciara Kinnarney And the last of Paddy’s many initiatives - to raise €150,000 for MND research and support services as well as homeless causes in Offaly - was realised with the sum surpassed as contributions poured in at Tullamore GAA Centre on Sunday morning ahead of the walk, which had some 300 participants. Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen was on hand to launch the walk, commenting that the “spirit of Paddy Fenning is alive and well here this morning” and referencing “the great life that he lived, the great Tullamore man that he was”. He remembered how when playing underage football with Clara, opposing Tullamore teams invariably had Paddy Fenning at the helm and that defeat was often their lot. Mr Cowen also recalled the Offaly team’s success of the early 70s and how, like youngsters all around the county at that time, he strived to perfect the “Tony McTague sidestep”. He added: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to support this wonderful cause and I think of him [Paddy Fenning] and many others who have gone to their eternal reward but have left behind a great legacy and I hope that, in the years to come, we’re able to keep it up.” The walk set off from Tullamore GAA Centre and down Convent View before continuing along the Grand Canal and returning on a loop to complete the 5km route. To complete the walk, Willie Bryan and Tony McTague, the respective All-Ireland winning captains in 1971 and ‘72,
IN PICTURES: Paddy Fenning walk raises staggering amount as Offaly's 1971 heroes reunite
![FUNDS raised from the Paddy Fenning Walk soared past the €150,000 mark on Sunday as the Offaly footballers of 1971 paraded the Sam Maguire Cup once again. Fifty years to the day since they made the historic breakthrough by winning the county’s first ever senior All-Ireland title, the team reunited to honour their late teammate, who passed away last year after a stoic battle with motor neurone disease (MND). KEEP READING BELOW PICTURE AND TO SEE THE FULL GALLERY OF PICTURES CLICK ON NEXT ABOVE Pictures: Marie Kearns, Tullamore Camera Club; Alex Aubin, Tullamore Camera Club, Ciara Kinnarney And the last of Paddy’s many initiatives - to raise €150,000 for MND research and support services as well as homeless causes in Offaly - was realised with the sum surpassed as contributions poured in at Tullamore GAA Centre on Sunday morning ahead of the walk, which had some 300 participants. Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen was on hand to launch the walk, commenting that the “spirit of Paddy Fenning is alive and well here this morning” and referencing “the great life that he lived, the great Tullamore man that he was”. He remembered how when playing underage football with Clara, opposing Tullamore teams invariably had Paddy Fenning at the helm and that defeat was often their lot. Mr Cowen also recalled the Offaly team’s success of the early 70s and how, like youngsters all around the county at that time, he strived to perfect the “Tony McTague sidestep”. He added: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to support this wonderful cause and I think of him [Paddy Fenning] and many others who have gone to their eternal reward but have left behind a great legacy and I hope that, in the years to come, we’re able to keep it up.” The walk set off from Tullamore GAA Centre and down Convent View before continuing along the Grand Canal and returning on a loop to complete the 5km route. To complete the walk, Willie Bryan and Tony McTague, the respective All-Ireland winning captains in 1971 and ‘72,](https://www.connachttribune.ie/jpim-static/image/2026/04/28/09/iconic-upload-1632823219540.JPG?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=70&enable=upscale)
