Irish skiing has lost one of its true pioneers this week with the passing of Paddy Roche — a man whose influence shaped generations, whose quiet guidance built the foundations of our community, and whose love of the mountains touched everyone lucky enough to ski beside him.

Paddy was there at the beginning. To so many of us, he was the first hand on the shoulder, the first voice of encouragement, and the steady presence who made the impossible feel doable. As Dee remembers, Paddy famously put her name forward for club instructor training before telling her — the most Paddy move imaginable. It was his way: open the door, give you a gentle nudge, and then stand back with that unmistakable wry smile when you realised you could do more than you ever thought.

He mentored countless instructors, long before there was a formal pathway. His Wednesday-night teams, his early-morning Sunday sessions, his technical advice without fuss or fanfare — they built the skills, confidence and camaraderie that Irish skiing still runs on today. He never overpraised. He didn’t need to. Everyone knew the real reward was that quiet nod or the small grin that meant ‘good skiing’.

He made everything look effortless. Whether carving down the slope in perfect control or floating through off-piste snow with the ease of a mountain man utterly at home, Paddy’s skiing had a lightness that was almost musical. Even our synchro-skiing for Santa at the Ski Club had its own magic under his guidance — holding hands in formation, short turns timed perfectly, early Sunday rehearsals that somehow always turned into cherished memories.

But perhaps Paddy’s greatest legacy is the community he built. Summers became Wednesday-evening walks. Winters were a blur of coaching, courses, and cups of tea with whoever happened to be around. He knew everyone’s name and everyone’s story. No matter how long you’d been skiing, he always took the time to ask what you were working on, how your season was going, and what you were aiming for next.

As Kathryn reflects, Paddy’s support continued right into the modern IASI era. From instructor to educator, Kathryn always felt his belief — steady, encouraging, utterly genuine. One of her proudest moments was examining two of Paddy’s grandchildren on their Level 1 instructor journey. To see the next generation of Roches step onto the pathway he helped create felt like the most fitting tribute of all.

And of course, his own family — Brendan, a former Board member and Treasurer of IASI; Catherine; and his grandchildren within our membership — are part of the fabric of Irish skiing because Paddy wove them into it.

There are a few people you can call ‘foundational’. Paddy was one of them. A gentleman, a teacher, a mentor, a mountain soul. Someone who gave far more than he ever took. Someone who asked for nothing but gave us a lifetime of stories, skills, and friendship.

We are grateful for every turn shared, every early morning, every nod of encouragement, and every quiet smile.

He will be deeply missed — and never forgotten.

May he rest in peace, and may his tracks in the snow guide many more after him.

Funeral mass

Paddy’s funeral will be at 10.45am Irish time this morning at Our Lady of Good Council, Ballyboden, Dublin. If you would like to attend online, the link is https://www.churchservices.tv/ballyboden