Background
Pad Joe Whelahan was born in Banagher, County Offaly in 1945.
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Patrick Joseph
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He was educated locally and later settled in Birr where he runs his own public
Career
He played hurling with his local club Saint Rynagh"s and with the Offaly senior inter-county team in the 1960s and 1970s. Whelahan later served as manager of the Offaly and Limerick senior inter-county teams. He has also had a very successful career as manager of club sides Birr and Toomevara.
Whelahan"s sons - Brian, Simon and Barry - would all taste success with Birr and with Offaly on the inter-county scene.
Club
After his playing career came to an end Whelahan maintained a keen interest in the game of hurling as a coach and manager. He managed his native club of Saint Rynagh"s to county honours, before later guiding Toomevara and Nenagh Éire Óg to club honours in Tipperary as well.
lieutenant was with Birr that Whelahan enjoyed his biggest successes. He took charge of his adopted club side in 1997 and steered Birr to a county title.
Leinster club honours quickly followed before Birr captured the All-Ireland club title in 1998.
The following year Whelahan"s side captured the first of five county titles in-a-row. During this very successful period Birr also captured Leinster club honours in 1999, 2001 and 2002. These provincial titles were converted into All-Ireland wins in 2002 and 2003.
He later returned to guide the club to further county and Leinster honours in 2007.
His side were later defeated by Portumna in the All-Ireland final in 2008. Inter-county
At county level Whelahan was one of the most successful minor hurling managers of them all, leading Offaly to All-Ireland titles in 1986, 1987 and 1989.
He also took charge of the county under-21 and senior sides. Whelahan guided the senior team to several Leinster titles in the late 1980s.
He has also been linked to vacant managerial positions in Antrim, Westmeath, Offaly and Dublin.
Inter-provincial
Whelehan also lined out with Leinster in the Railway Cup inter-provincial competition, however, he also had little success in this hurling competition.
