Páidí Ó Sé

Who was Páidí Ó Sé?

Páidí Ó Sé was an Irish Gaelic footballer and manager who played as a right half-back for Kerry. With ten All-Irelands to his name as a player and two All-Irelands as a manager, in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, he was one of the most decorated names in the sport and was one of the most recognisable faces in the country. He was one of five men to win eight All-Ireland football medals, and one of two men to win multiple All Irelands as a player and a manager.

Ó Sé made his first senior appearance for Kerry during the 1974-75 National League and was a regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement after the 1987 Championship. During that time he won eight All-Ireland medals, eleven Munster medals, four National League medals and five All Stars Awards. Ó Sé captained Kerry to the 1985 All-Ireland title. At club level he was a two-time County Senior Championship medalist with divisional side West Kerry, and also played with an Ghaeltacht.

Ó Sé was heavily involved in team management and coaching. Having begun as player-manager of West Kerry, he would later guide Kerry to two All-Ireland titles in 1997 and 2000. He also managed Westmeath and Clare, leading the former in notable circumstances to the 2004 Leinster Senior Football Championship Final, which they then won. He was managing the West Kerry divisional side as recently as 2010. Before his sudden death in 2012, he was involved in tours with The Gathering Ireland 2013.