One last lap for Carlow athletics legend PL Curran
The final journey of St Laurence O'Toole AC stalwart PL Curran as his funeral cortege makes two laps of the club's Olympic-standard running track that he was instrumental in creating Photo: Michael O'Rourke Photography
CARLOW athletics legend PL Curran took one last lap around his beloved St Laurence O’Toole Athletic Club on Friday, when hundreds of mourners accompanied his remains on two circuits of the Mondo track that he had spent decades fighting to bring to fruition.
Led by lone piper Mick Ryan, a neighbour and member of Killeshin Pipe Band, the cortège included athletes from Tinryland AC, St Abban’s AC and Newbridge AC, as well as members of St Laurence O’Toole AC, past and present, many wearing the club’s blue colours. The national flag flew at half-mast from the clubhouse.
PL Curran, Clonmore, Killeshin passed away on Tuesday 16 June at Dublin’s Beacon Hospital following a brave battle with a serious illness. He was 81.
His death cast a profound gloom over Carlow town and district, with tributes pouring in for a man described as ‘one in a million’ whose contribution to Irish athletics spanned decades and reached the highest levels of international competition.
A prime mover in the establishment of St Laurence O’Toole’s facility in Askea, home to an Olympic-standard 400-metre track widely regarded as one of Ireland’s leading athletics centres, PL was also appointed manager of the Irish track and field team at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He was at the helm when the great John Treacy claimed a silver medal in the men’s marathon, Ireland’s first Olympic track medal in 28 years.
Mr Treacy was among the mourners at Friday’s funeral Mass in St Clare’s Church, Graiguecullen, where he brought forward the LA Games mascot and the medal presented to PL by the Irish Olympic Council as symbols of a remarkable life. His appearance drew spontaneous applause from the congregation.
In a tribute, St Laurence O’Toole AC described PL as ‘an extraordinary man’, whose ‘vision, dedication and leadership were instrumental in shaping the club and contributing to its success over many decades’.
Club chairman Billy Delaney, a close friend for over 30 years, recalled PL’s unwavering belief that the club could one day boast world-class facilities. “The last thing you would want to do was dampen a person’s enthusiasm, so I buckled up for the ride,” he told mourners.
KCLR sports commentator Brendan Hennessy, another close friend, said PL “was well got in everything he did,” adding that PL was immensely proud that 17 full international athletes had emerged from the ranks of St Laurence O’Toole AC.
PL Curran is mourned by his brothers Michael, Eamonn and Francis, his sisters Kathleen, Bridie, Mary and Gerardine and his wider family and community.
