Gentleman Paddy was up there with the best of them...

I WAS only wondering about Paddy Moloney just a few hours before his death was announced on Tuesday.

- JASON O’TOOLE

Coincidentally, I’d received one of The Chieftains records for my birthday on that very same day.

I’d googled him earlier that morning and thought, “He’s reached the grand old age of 83, which is a great run.”

A deeply religious man, I reckon Paddy would’ve drawn great solace from his faith as he faced the last chapter of his own wonderful rags to riches life story.

Paddy was convinced his band’s harpist, Derek Bell, who turned to Buddhism before he died at age 66 in 2002, was “looking down” on him.

Paddy once told me: “I believe we are all going to meet up there [in heaven].”

It’s a crying shame that Paddy went to his grave without penning his memoir. The uilleann pipe maestro had some marvelous anecdotes to share, having rubbed shoulders with many music icons.

He probably collaborated with more stars than Bono, including Mick Jagger, Pavarotti, Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, Madonna, Tom Jones, and Van Morrison.