Paddy Gorman
What is your profession? I am retired from the United States Military and the US Dept of Veterans Affairs.
How do you celebrate your Irishness? I am on the Board of directors at the Buffalo Irish Center, a member of the Knights of Equity and Ancient order of Hibernians. I play hurling for the Buffalo Fenians, volunteer for the Buffalo Irish festival and volunteer for the Old Neighborhood Saint Patrick’s day Parade. I am also the organizer of the Bridges beyond Boxing Ireland program here in Buffalo.
Name a hero you admire and why? My father Patrick Gorman Senior embodied what is to be a hard working class Irish Catholic father. He worked two full time jobs to feed my mother, my three siblings and myself. He instilled in us the important foundation of family and church. My father never missed a holiday, nor event we had, even after working without any sleep. His love for his country and decorated service in Vietnam inspired me to join the Marine Corp to follow in his footsteps. Listening to his stories of life as an Irish Catholic family growing up in South Buffalo cemented the love I will always have for the communities in which we originated from in the Old First Ward and into South Buffalo.
Something people would be surprised to know about me... I competed for 12 years as a Mixed Martial Arts fighter and a Muay Thai Kickboxer under the name Irelands Own , which is a tribute to my favorite boxer John Duddy from county Derry in Ireland.
Biography: After spending two decades serving in a Combat Infantry unit with the US Marine Corp and a Civil Affairs unit in the United States Army I retired in 2017. I am now a stay at home Da to my Infant daughter Meadhbh while my wife Meaghan of 5 years teaches for the city of Buffalo . My free time is spent giving back to my church Our lady of Perpetual Help and the Irish communities through various charities within the neighborhoods.
