Laois sporting legend Pat Critchley episode on the new series of the popular TG4 series Laochra Gael is set to air on Thursday night.
The series is an hour-long format and has proved a huge success, bringing each player’s personal stories to screen.
The series features eight Laochra and Pat will be the sixth episode – becoming just the second Laois person to feature after Sue Ramsbottom.
Pat’s episode will air on Thursday, February 29, at 7.30pm and TG4 spoke about it in an announcement today:
“Pat Critchley was a mainstay of the Laois GAA hurling team of the 1980s.
“He is often referred to as “Laois’s only hurling All Star”, which is some distinction, picked up when he was a mop-haired midfielder when Laois made it to the Leinster final in 1985.
“During his playing days, coaching captured Critchley’s imagination.
“Critchley has given thousands an opportunity to develop and flourish on pitches and courts throughout Ireland – in football, hurling, basketball and ladies football at club and county level.
“Sport was an obvious outlet. But music was and remains a huge part of his life. For a while, he was part of The Mere Mortals, the Laois rock band managed by his friend and former Laois team-mate Séamus Cheddar Plunkett.
“A major part of his life is notably the tragic death of Paul Mulhare in 1985, the year of his All-Star, following a league match between Dublin and Laois.
“Mulhare suffered an accidental blow to the head from Critchley’s hurl, and later died in hospital. Critchley treats it sensitively and with tremendous humanity and care.
“There is a sense that writing offers him some helpful expression and an attempt to make sense of what were almost surreal experiences.”
Director: Cormac Morel
Participants: Pat Critchley; Mick Critchley; Vincent Hogan; Dónal O’Grady; Pat Fleury; Séamus Plunkett; Patty Critchley; Elaine Fitzpatrick; Catherine Ashe; Angela Casey; Ollie Plunkett; Des Rigney; Paul Brophy; Paul Marron; John Bohan; Billy Bohan
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