Paddy Phelan (1910 - 7 December 1971) was an Irish hurler who played as a left wing-back for the Kilkenny senior team.
Phelan made his first appearance for the team during the 1931 championship and became a regular player over the next decade until his retirement after the 1942 championship. During that time he won four All-Ireland medals, eight Leinster medals and one National Hurling League medal.
At club level Phelan enjoyed a successful career with Tullaroan, winning three county club championship medals.
Regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time, Phelan was included in both the GAA Hurling Team of the Century and GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium. His grand-nephew, D. J. Carey, won five All-Ireland medals with Kilkenny and was regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation.
Famous quotes containing the word paddy:
“O Paddy dear, an’ did ye hear the news that’s goin’ round?
The shamrock is by law forbid to grow on Irish ground!
No more Saint Patrick’s Day we’ll keep, his colour can’t be seen,
For there’s a cruel law agin the wearin’ o’ the Green!”
—Unknown. The Wearing of the Green (l. 37–40)