Tributes paid after the sad passing of P.L. Curran

St Laurence O’Toole AC have sadly announced the death of their cherished clubman P.L. Curran.

P.L. was a one-in-a-million type who devoted his life to others and he was a figurehead within the club as they established themselves, and their facilities, as one of the best in the country.

Their statement read:

“It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend and valued member, P.L. Curran.

“P.L. was an extraordinary man who gave so much of his time, energy, and passion to St. Laurence O’Toole A.C. His vision, dedication, and leadership were instrumental in shaping the club and contributing to its success over many decades.

“A proud Carlovian, from Killeshin, P.L. was a tireless volunteer and dedicated advocate for athletics throughout County Carlow and beyond. He regularly organised championship events and designed medals for Carlow County Athletics, where he served with distinction in numerous roles on the county board. His commitment to promoting athletics was unwavering, and his influence was felt at every level of the sport. He also had the honour of serving as manager of Ireland’s athletics team at the 1984 Olympic Games.

“P.L. played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Community Games in County Carlow. As a founding member, he became the organisation’s first County Chairman in 1973, a position he held for ten years. Throughout his tenure, he championed the values of participation, inclusion, and enjoyment, believing that every child should have the opportunity to take part regardless of the outcome.

“Within St. Laurence O’Toole A.C., P.L. fulfilled many roles over the years — volunteer, coach, PRO, administrator, mentor, and leader, to name but a few. He dedicated countless hours to supporting and developing both juvenile and senior athletes, and nothing brought him greater joy than seeing athletes achieve their goals and fulfil their potential. He played a central role in the development of athletics in County Carlow and was a constant source of encouragement and inspiration to generations of athletes.

“Over many decades, P.L. devoted himself to the growth and development of St. Laurence O’Toole A.C., helping transform the club from its modest local roots into one of Ireland’s leading centres for athletics.

“As the driving force behind the creation of the club’s Olympic-standard track, P.L. was immensely proud to see the project come to fruition. The completion of the track represented the fulfilment of a lifelong dream and a vision he had worked tirelessly towards for many years. Yet, true to his humble nature, he never sought personal recognition, always insisting that its success was the result of a collective team effort rather than his own achievement.

“P.L.’s contribution to athletics, to our club, and to the wider community was immense. His legacy will live on through the countless athletes he inspired, the facilities he helped create, and the enduring values he instilled in all who had the privilege of knowing him.

“On behalf of everyone at St. Laurence O’Toole A.C., we extend our deepest and most sincere condolences to P.L.’s family and his many friends across the country.

“May he rest in peace.

“You will be dearly missed, P.L., but never forgotten.” On the international athletic front, he was the team manager for the Irish Olympic team in Los Angeles in 1984, the year that John Treacy famously won a silver in the marathon. P.L. and Treacy remained firm friends after that and Treacy was a regular visitor to Carlow.

P.L. was also well known in the county for his time spent working in the Sugar Factory where he joined on 27 September 1962 and continued working there until the day it closed on 3 March 2005.

For us here in The Nationalist, P.L was in regular contact and he sought to promote the St Laurence O’Toole club but he was also the driving force behind the Quarterly and Annual Nationalist Sports Awards.

“P.L. was a very special person who loved all aspects of Carlow sport. Obviously athletics was his first love but he just loved to see people competing and giving of their best in sport. From the Youths Awards, where youngsters with immense potential are recognised, to the Hall of Fame Awards, where the heroes of yesteryear are remembered, P.L. was immersed in it all. We’ll miss him every day but especially so around the time of these awards,” said Ger McNally, Sports Editor of the Carlow Nationalist.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.