It was a very sad start to the Christmas break to hear our former Commodore Padraig O’Cearbhaill passed away a few days ago, aged 96. Padraig was Commodore in 1972-1973 having served on the Committee and as Vice Commodore under Charlie Sargent. Padraig grew up in Clontarf and as a young 14 year old, remembers sailing from CYBC with a number of other boats to Sutton Dinghy Club to mark the set up of the new Club sometime in 1940.
Padraig served in the Army, based in Cork and eventually in the Curragh. He was a founder member of the Army Sailing Association, who sailed in Blessington. Padraig joined Blessington SC and served on Committee and was instrumental in the development of their Clubhouse. In 1967, due to family circumstances, Padraig left the Army and took over the family business. On returning to Dublin he moved to Sutton and joined Sutton Dinghy Club. Padraic continued to assist Blessington SC as OOD for Open events for a number of years while becoming more involved on Committee in Sutton Dinghy Club.
He sailed Mirrors initially and became Secretary of Mirror Association of Ireland and was heavily involved in organising Mirror events. In 1972 he was elected Commodore and helped set-up the Development Planning Committee which would eventually lead to a new Clubhouse in the early 80’s. The Irish National Mirror Championship trophy was brought back to Sutton during Padraigs tenure as Commodore when David Dickson with his brother Alan as crew (Pink Panther – 28988) took the title in an event sailed in Lough Derg. Runner up was another Sutton sailor Brian Maguire. At the end of his term as Commodore, Padraic was elected to the Irish Sailing Association Council and remained active on the Club Committee and also becoming a Trustee of Sutton Dinghy Club. Padraig, a keen photographer, regularly took photos at sailing events in Sutton Dinghy Club in the mid and late 70’s, most memorably at the Mirror Nationals held in Sutton in 1978.
Padraig’s children all came through Optimist and Mirrors in Sutton, with Cian (O’Carroll) continuing his interest in sailing and today sails Etchells in the UK. Padraig continued to sail a Laser and a GP14 with Brendan O’Loughlin and Damian Jennings. In 1976 he bought a cruiser ‘Anatole’ from Jimmy Ennis (former Trustee) which was moored in Sutton Creek and was regularly used as Committee boat. Padraig moved ‘Anatole’ to Howth when the marina was built in 1984. Padraig stood down as Trustee, retiring at the end of 2014 and attended the 75th Anniversary Gala Ball in November 2014 where he was presented with a mounted commemorative Club burgee to mark his commitment and contribution to Sutton Dinghy Club.
Padraic O’Cearbhaill (Commodore 1972 – 1973)