Paddy Carr

Paddy Carr is a Gaelic football manager and former player. He played for, and later managed, the senior Donegal county team.

While managing Kilmacud Crokes, Carr won the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship and the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship. He managed numerous other clubs in Louth, Meath and Dublin. He also managed the Louth county team and the Meath minor team.

Early life

A secondary school principal, he is originally from Fanad in County Donegal, played for the Donegal county team and was later linked with the senior managerial post of his native county on several occasions.{{cite news|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/home/267133/donegal-manager-paddy-carr-out-of-race-mcdaid-banty-and-corey-to-be-nominated.html|title=Paddy Carr out of race; McDaid, 'Banty' and Corey to be nominated|publisher=DonegalLive|date=25 August 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://punditarena.com/gaa/thepateam/paddy-carr-contention-donegal-job/|title=Former All-Ireland Club Winning Manager In Contention For Donegal Job|publisher=Pundit Arena|date=17 August 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/paddy-carr-attend-sfc-games-fanad-native-poised-bid-donegal-job/|title=Paddy Carr to attend SFC games as Fanad native poised to bid for Donegal job|publisher=Donegal Sport Hub|date=17 August 2017}}

He worked in the slums of Latin America in the 1980s.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/paddy-carr-carries-spirit-of-latin-america-with-him-for-donegal-job-42095777.html|title=Paddy Carr carries spirit of Latin America with him for Donegal job|date=26 October 2022|work=Irish Independent|access-date=26 October 2022}} As of 2023, he was living in Ardee.

Playing career

While playing for Walterstown, Carr won three Meath Senior Football Championship titles and he also played for Kilmacud Crokes and the Donegal county team.{{cite news|first=Fergal|last=Lynch|url=https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2022/10/25/carr-hoping-to-drive-donegal-back-to-glory/|title=Carr hoping to drive Donegal back to glory|work=Meath Chronicle|date=25 October 2022|access-date=25 October 2022}}

Managerial career

Carr managed St Oliver's CC to County and Provincial titles, taking them to the All-Ireland Vocational Final.

Carr managed Louth from 2002–2003. He played his underage football with Kilmacud Crokes, while attending Oatlands College in Stillorgan. He made the switch to Walterstown in County Meath to play his senior football when he moved to live in Navan. He managed the Meath minor football team in 2007 and has previous managerial experience with both Louth and Meath clubs. He managed Meath Hill for a while. He was manager of the Kilmacud Crokes team that won the 2008 Dublin Senior Football Championship and the 2008 Leinster Senior Club Football Championship.{{cite web| url = http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/crokes-unveil-experienced-carr-as-new-manager-1265464.html| title = Crokes unveil experienced Carr as new manager - Independent.ie}} He also won the 2008–09 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship with the club before going on to manage Ballymun Kickhams.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/ballymun-kickhams-gaa-paddy-carr-3744004-Dec2017/|title=Dublin senior finalists need a new manager after 2009 All-Ireland club winning boss steps down|publisher=The42.ie|date=11 December 2017}}

In October 2022, Carr was appointed for a two-year term as manager of the Donegal senior footballers, with a review planned following the first of those years.{{cite news|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/946994/donegal-appoint-paddy-carr-as-senior-team-manager.html|title=Gaeil Fhánada clubman Paddy Carr was tonight ratified as Donegal senior team manager by the clubs of the county, with 2002 All-Ireland winner Aidan O'Rourke as head coach, on a two-year term with a review after one year|date=24 October 2022|access-date=24 October 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://highlandradio.com/2022/10/24/paddy-carr-says-its-incredibly-special-to-manage-donegal/|title=Paddy Carr says it's incredibly special to manage Donegal|publisher=Highland Radio|date=24 October 2022|access-date=24 October 2022}} On 29 January 2023, Carr won his first game as Donegal manager, defeating the reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry. Speaking afterwards, he dedicated the victory to the victims of the Creeslough explosion.{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Bolton|url=https://www.balls.ie/gaa/paddy-carr-pays-tribute-to-creeslough-victims-in-emotional-interview-after-win-over-kerry-541059|title=Paddy Carr Pays Tribute To Creeslough Victims In Emotional Interview After Win Over Kerry|publisher=Balls.ie|date=29 January 2023|access-date=29 January 2023}} Carr stayed on as Donegal manager until he stood aside on 22 March 2023.{{cite news|first=Declan|last=Bogue|url=https://www.the42.ie/paddy-carr-donegal-resigns-6025742-Mar2023/|title=Paddy Carr resigns as Donegal senior football manager|publisher=The42.ie|date=22 March 2023|access-date=22 March 2023}}

In November 2023, St Kevin's in Louth announced Carr as its manager for the 2024 season.{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/1357697/former-donegal-manager-paddy-carr-takes-up-club-post-in-louth.html|title=Former Donegal manager Paddy Carr takes up club post in Louth: Fanad native Carr, who lives in Ardee, managed Donegal last season|date=25 November 2023|access-date=25 November 2023}}