Cyclist Phil Cassidy pays tribute to his late father Paddy

Athboy native died on Wednesday evening

Double Ras Tailteann winner Phil Cassidy has paid tribute to his father, Paddy, who died on Wednesday evening.

Athboy native Paddy lived in Clonee for many years before moving to Castleknock.

Cyclist Phil wrote tonight on his Facebook page: “ The world lost an amazing man as in my Dad Paddy as he passed away peacefully at 6pm this evening.. I was with him with my brothers and sister. He is at peace now and where he always wanted to be with Mum and David. He was my Super Hero and was the strongest man I ever came across and absolutely never give up attitude just like Mam until the end.

“He’s all I ever wanted to be and they were the first two I thought of whenever was lucky enough to win anything as I know they would be so proud. He drank enough Brandy for the week of the Ras in ‘83 to do any man a lifetime just so he could get some sleep he was so excited. I spent my youth from the age of seven accompanying him to building sites in Swords, Clonsilla and Leixlip making tea for the builders and when possible driving his Bulldozers and his car… Summer holidays were a joy just being with him at work… Thankfully we got him out of the hard days on the building site in 1983 when we opened our first bike shop in Blanchardstown (Philip Cassidy Cycles) with the great suport of Brian Connaughton.

“I remember also Kieron McQuaid and Se O’Hanlon of President Cycles and Paul and Brian Maher of Centro standing in our kitchen in Clonee agreeing to help us out with some stock to get started. He then moved premises and dropped my name for Bridge Cycles as I had moved on with Brian in 1984 to open Cycleways. Paddy spent many years selling and repairing bikes. He then joins us in Cycleways workshop and was one of the lads for years. He had a lot of setbacks to deal with in life but he always looked forward rite up to the end. He thought me to take the positives out of life and to care for others as he always did and never sit for too long.”

Paddy’s wife, Yvette, passed away on 1st February last, and their son, David, died in September 2018. Paddy is survived by family, Brendan, Philip, Patrick, Sarah, Val, Graham, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives, neighbours and friends.