It is with regret that the Federation learnt of the passing of Pat Duffy on Sunday 10th August following a long illness bravely borne. On behalf of all involved in Irish sport – extended sympathy to family and friends.
Pat will be remembered as a pioneer in Irish sport.
Qualifying as a PE teacher, he worked as a lecturer in UL after postgraduate work in the U.S., and became one of the leaders in the emergence of what we now know as a systemic approach to coach education and player-athlete support in this country.
Along with all those involved in the early days of the NCTC (now Coaching Ireland), he championed the development of the long term player athlete development model, the National Coach Development Programme and related areas like tutor education and the carding scheme for high performers.
He completed his PhD on the history of Physical Education provision in the state.
His career also involved international roles including serving on European committees for the development of qualifications framework for coach education and as CEO of SportsCoach UK.
Moving to Leeds Met University enabled him to take up a role in which his natural talents were most evident – that of teacher, communicator and the facilitator of success for others – as Professor of Sports Coaching.
Irish sport has lost one of the brightest and most intelligent thinkers on coach education and player and athlete development. All of us involved in Irish sport today and generations of athletes and coaches to come will benefit from the foundations he helped to build.