PADDY REID was laid to rest this week. The Garryowen man was a former Munster Rugby Branch President and also the only Limerick member of the 1948 Grand Slam winning team.
That would be enough for anyone else, but Reid was also a professional rugby league player (winning a challenge cup at Wembley), a soccer player for Limerick FC while also playing hockey to a high level.
Reid’s decision to play professional rugby meant he was banned from Rugby Union and was never allowed to be capped again.
Reid stands out for me, though I never saw him play, but for me Paddy epitomises Limerick sport. Multi talented across several codes, garnering the unwaivering respect of his peers. The Irish international was spoken about with such reverence and passion that one could only imagine what an athlete he was like in his heyday. Humility is something that is rare in modern sport and one can only imagine how much of a Global star someone as talented as Reid would earn today. RIP
