For over five decades, the resilient country music legend has graced stages with his heartfelt tunes. Paddy emerged a beacon of resilience and positivity after surviving two harrowing road accidents and bouts of depression. That strength was called on again recently when his wife of 21 years, Ann, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, after a year and a half of treatment and recovery, she is well again.
While you carry those scars from many decades ago Paddy, Ann, you had a recent cancer diagnosis. That must have been very traumatic? I had a great friend called Jim Fitzgerald, who was part of the Hilltop Hotel in Youghal and he was also involved in the first community radio stations. Around 1981 he almost took me by the hand to a studio where I recorded a cassette called Easy Listening. The following year I released Favourites and then a cassette called Memories. Jim and myself approached Paschal Mooney, who had a popular radio show called Keep It Country on RTÉ.