Paddy Larkin

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Patrick Larkin (26 July 1905 – 19 September 1976) was an Irish hurler who played as a full-back for the Kilkenny senior team.

Born in Patrick St., Kilkenny, Larkin first played competitive hurling during his school days at St. Patrick's De La Salle. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty when he first linked up with the Kilkenny senior team in various tournament games, before later lining out with the junior side. He made his competitive senior debut in the 1929–30 National Hurling League. Larkin went on to play a key part for Kilkenny during a hugely successful era, and won four All-Ireland medals, nine Leinster medals and one National Hurling League medal. He was an All-Ireland runner-up on four occasions.

As a representative on the Leinster inter-provincial team for much of his inter-county career, Larkin won three Railway Cup medals in 1932, 1933 and 1936. At club level he won five championship medals with James Stephens, Tullaroan and Éire Óg.

With 43 championship appearances for Kilkenny, Larkin was the most "capped" full-back in the county's history. This record was later surpassed by Noel Hickey. He retired from inter-county hurling following Kilkenny's shock exit at the hands of Antrim in the 1943 championship.

The Larkin family hold a unique distinction in hurling history as the only family to experience All-Ireland success through three generations. Larkin's son, Fan, who five All-Ireland medals between 1963 and 1979, while his grandson, Philly, won two All-Ireland medals in 2000 and 2002. Larkin's brother, Mick, was an All-Ireland medallist as a non-playing substitute in 1935.