A giant , thats all I can think of , a giant of a heart ! Met Pat first in a work capacity in 2013 when we took over The Tralee Advertiser . I had known him from before this between Killarney , Tralee Chamber of Commerce , my own lads playing sport and oh yeah …the Cinema !
But it was only working with him every week for nearly 10 years that Pats true attributes became known to me . So knowledgeable…and not only about Sport ( that was on another level altogether ! ) and the guy knew everyone and smiled everytime he met someone . Week in week out he would duly digest all the various club notes that were sent in to The Tralee Advertiser along with his own notes and present us with Padraig Harnetts take on what was happening in Sport in the greater Tralee area that week …as well as the Kerry team !!! It was a ‘Must Read ‘. He loved all sports …yes you could say he had favourites but he was passionate about all as far as I could see …Schoolboys , Underage , Basketball , Soccer , Gaa …didnt matter ..he consumed them all ! Kerry could have no better Voice of sport than this gentle giant ..what he did for so many codes . Never a man to see you stuck , Padraig would often lend a hand to us delivering the Tralee Advertiser on the odd Friday , which allowed us the odd breakaway , comfort in knowing that there was a good man at the helm of our delivery day . I have fond memories of our catch up coffees…particularly every Christmas , usually at the Rose Hotel . Also during the start of Covid in Corrib Service Station ..( where everyone met ! ) …me sitting on my hands while all my customers and business were on pause as was I ! …and Padraig? …. with no sports happening ? Well he was busy helping out Meals on Wheels and Vincent De Paul making sure all those less fortunate were taken care of …Yes a giant Heart as well as a giant Voice .. Rest in Peace Padraig …Missing you already ….Chris Shortt ( Tralee Advertiser )
