MOTORMOUTH’S MUTTERINGS – My Friend Paddy Glass

My phone beeped the other week. A WhatsApp message, the same one I used to get every few weeks. It never failed to make me smile. It simply read “Pt. Gazedor. 6” Whilst it might sound like something from Mission Impossible, it was actually quite simple. Paddy Glass was asking me to meet him for a pint (Pt) in Gazedor (Hayden’s of Naas, autocorrected by a Nokia phone back in the day) at 6 o’clock.  Paddy passed away suddenly last night and although I didn’t make it to meet him for that last pint, I will treasure the many times I did.

Paddy’s real name was Paddy Byrne, but a lot of people didn’t even know that. He was an integral part of Naas life and, back in the day, his Naas Glass Company shop on the Dublin Road was always worth sticking the head into for a chat. Fire always lit, leather apron on, he always had a story for you. If it was a really funny one though, he would send you on your way, telling you to meet him in Hayden’s at 6. We had a sort of a 6 o’clock club there in the late 1990s. Paddy, Brian Tuite and a few others would meet each evening to discuss life, motor racing and other relevant matters. Great days. It was during these days that Paddy became a wonderful friend, a confidant and a mentor to me, in business and in life. He subsequently introduced me to the Lion’s Club and I was very proud to succeed him as President a few years back (During my tenure, he was constantly on the receiving end of “What will I do” phone calls from me!)

Paddy had great history in Motorsport, and was very well regarded in the realms of officialdom, an area in which he was highly knowledgeable. He was involved in the running of the Phoenix Park Motor Races and many many Mondello events and was class co ordinator for the manufacturer backed Dunlop Uno Cup and the Group N saloons, when the fire breathing Sierra Cosworths thrilled the crowds.

Generous to a T, Paddy saw the good in everyone and, bar the very odd exception, wouldn’t have a bad word uttered about anyone. Hugely social, he was, as the saying goes, great value for a pint and a chat. He was utterly charming and used to tell us that a woman should never go without a seat in a pub, pay for her own drink, or light her own cigarette. When the Gazedor nights ran on a bit, as they were wont to do,  Paddy would announce that we were adjourning to the Chinese upstairs. Upon seeing Paddy arriving at the top of the stairs, “Gary” would roll out the metaphorical red carpet and there would be tables moved, chairs carried over and Paddy’s favourite red wine produced, Goodfellas style!

Paddy was part of Plum Tyndall’s RPM crew and it was he, along with Brian Tuite,  who somehow got Plum to enlist me to join up. Initially I started going to rallies, conducting interviews and accompanying cameramen out onto the stages, massively proud to be wearing one of the bright blue “Keep The Revs Up” tops. We worked hard, but we played hard too- truly wonderful days. This also gave me my first ever television commentary, a hugely exciting day for me as I drove to UTV in Belfast to commentate on a Dunlop RT2000 race from Kirkistown. I honestly couldn’t believe I was going to be commentating on the telly- but Paddy and BT told me it would be no bother to me. (Jonathan Fildes won by the way.)

My thoughts go out to his wonderful wife Erin who he (and many of us) thought was put on this planet just for him, his devoted daughters Steph and Niki, of whom he was hugely proud, and all of his extended family and many many friends.

I could go on and on, the stories have been flooding back all day. I’ll sign off by saying that Naas, and indeed the world, is a poorer place today without Paddy Glass. He will be greatly missed. I don’t say it about too many people but it this case it definitely rings true- Ní bheidh a leithéad ann arís…

The next time I am in Gazedor at 6, I will raise a pt to a truly great man….

Leo

 

Header image- a proud Paddy  poses with (L-R) his wife Erin and his daughters Niki and Steph on the occasion of his 60th birthday