There was sad news over the weekend with the death of Paddy Gillespie of Strabane at the age of 88. A former North West interprovincial player, Paddy was synonymous with the Tyrone club for whom he occupied many roles over many decades.

Former Cricket Ireland President and Chairman Joe Doherty pays tribute to Paddy below.

I first set eyes on Paddy Gillespie when I was taken (at the age of 5) to see my first cricket match. It was a North West Senior League match between Strabane and St. Johnston at the old Recreation Park and Strabane had a young, stylish opening. batsman called Paddy Gillespie. 

I remember him vividly, even from this distance, because he was immaculately turned out and carried his black Strabane cap tucked into his hip pocket, which was the fashion for many top batsmen of the time. His elegant appearance was matched by the elegance of his batting as well.  

I was fortunate to watch him and play alongside him for many, many years and I can honestly count on the fingers of one hand the number of times he played ‘across the line’.  Ever since I made my first appearance in the Boys’ team in 1960, Paddy and I have been part of each other’s lives (and our families’ lives) in one way or another and so many members of the club would say the same thing. 

We have all journeyed through many changing times and stood together in many ups and downs on and off  the cricket field in celebration, commiseration, reflection and solidarity, not only in the committee room, but also in the groundsman’s store during weekday afternoons where post mortems were conducted and much straight talking was done.  

As well as being an ‘ever present’ senior cricketer for over 30 years, Paddy was also a constant on the club committee, rising eventually (and reluctantly) to the office of President, a role which he was to carry out with his customary elegance and distinction.  

Long before his playing career ended, he was already heavily involved in groundmanship and pitch preparation mainly with his old friend and mentor John Devine. He continued to be the leader of the Grounds team with likes of John Beattie, Billy Conway, Joe Deans and Wilfred Mortimore and others, before eventually handing the baton to his sons.  

Paddy was definitely 'Mr Cricket' and Strabane and any reference to him represents a delve into massive chunk of the club’s history. He was a one club man and a very fine batsman who won the League and Cup double with the club in 1966 and the Senior League championship in 1968. He also represented the North West Cricket Union in the Guinness Cup and collected winners medals there too, playing 11 times between 1966 and 74, as well as playing on the North West tour of Trinidad in 1975.  

From the early 80s onwards. Paddy’s playing career took a back seat but he produced four sons who were all talented senior cricketers and he took great pride and delight in helping them along their cricketing journeys and supporting them and their teammates in every aspect of their times playing for club, province and country, feats that are well documented in the exploits of John,, Michael, Mark and Peter, as well as his grandchildren in more recent times.  

The Gillespie family has long been renowned not only through the North West, but across Ireland as one of the great cricket families in the country. Paddy’s best friend in life, of course, was his late wife Mary; she became equally invested in cricket  and was an unfailing  source of support to Paddy, the boys, the grandchildren and all of the members of the club in so many ways.  

Paddy was also deeply involved in youth coaching at the club, often in tandem with our first overseas player/coach Bobby Rao and was also a valued member of the NWCU’s Grounds Inspection Committee for many years.  

I always found it hard to believe how Paddy found the time for any life outside cricket, never mind the mountain of work he carried out for the local St. Vincent de Paul charity as a volunteer.  

Paddy has always been recognised as an absolute gentleman in all aspects of life and that gentleness never left him; I know that will be a  source of lasting pride for the family and a hallmark of his memory that will be a blessing to all of us who knew and loved him.  

Rest easy, Mr. Cricket - we’ll take it from here.