Paddy Mac Hugh
Paddy has recently left us following his untimely death after a short illness at the age of 87. Paddy was known throughout the length and breadth of Ireland as the weatherman on RTE television. Paddy retired in 1990, however he still provided weather forecasts for his family, friends and neighbours. He packed a lot of activities in to his retirement. Paddy was a perfectionist for spellings protocol, for example the Mac in his name Mac Hugh, (as opposed to McHugh).
Paddy’s life centred on his Wife Kay, - who is also a member of Foxhall Bridge Club and his family. In his private life Paddy had a preference for socialising with small groups in order to pursue his hobbies. He was an avid supporter of our trips away with Foxhall Bridge Club, and many a good party - some, which are legendry, were attended by neighbours family and friends in Paddy’s home on Cedar Walk.
I was Paddy’s bridge partner for more years than I care to remember. He was a great friend and a willing taxi driver for me. Paddy was a very keen and enthusiastic bridge player and he liked nothing better than a good battle at the bridge table. We played two to three times a week in Foxhall (our home club) and St Paul’s on a Thursday night.
Paddy worked tirelessly for Foxhall bridge club. He was passionate about bringing it forward, and was proud of its achievements. He was secretary of the club up until he retired in 2011. Paddy became competent in using Score Bridge and we both provided the scores for the club on a weekly basis, with Paddy checking my scores. So all can be assured that these were checked meticulously and there were no incorrect scores. Paddy was instrumental in finding Foxhall Bridge Club a new home in All Saints Hall beside All Saints Church in Raheny, when the Old Shieling, which had been home to the club for 30 years, closed.
Apart from bridge, Paddy’s pastimes were weather forecasting and classical music. A group of us also enjoyed a game of golf together on a Wednesday. This was always dependent on Paddy’s prediction of the weather forecast, which inevitably was accurate on showers and the time they were expected, to ensure our arrival dry at the nineteenth hole.
Paddy liked nothing more than a good get together and he was legendary following a game of bridge and a few glasses of wine, in his rendition of “Tit Willow” and a German Marching song which he sung in fluent German.
Paddy will be much missed by his family and many friends. Paddy was a very loyal and treasured friend, and one of life’s gentlemen, and will be sadly missed by all who knew him or those whose path he crossed.
John Treanor