It’s 40 years since legendary Coolderry and Offaly hurler Pat Carroll passed away after a short illness at the age of just 30.

A brilliant half forward, the flame-haired Pat was one of the stars of Offaly’s breakthrough All-Ireland SHC success in 1981. He captained the Faithful in 1982 and ’83, and also won four Leinster SHC medals and two All-Stars in a glittering career. His son Brian later followed in his footsteps by wearing the club and county colours with distinction, and is in his second year as Offaly minor hurling manager.

To mark the anniversary, a remembrance Mass for Pat and deceased members of Coolderry GAA club will be celebrated in the local St Ita’s Church tomorrow (Saturday, March 14). After Mass, everyone is invited to the nearby Community Hall for refreshments and where details of a project to record the south Offaly club’s many successes will be revealed.

This will include the unveiling of 31 exhibition panels, chronicling Coolderry’s record 31 Offaly SHC titles. There will also be a display panel recounting Pat Carroll’s career across club, county and province, which will later be placed on permanent display in the clubrooms.

In addition, the trophy Coolderry won for the ‘unofficial’ Offaly SHC of 1890 will also be on display.

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