William Mackesy (8 April 1880 – 12 November 1956) was an Irish dual player of Gaelic games, a hurler and a footballer. At club level he played with Lees and Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior teams in both codes. Mackessy is one of only fifteen players to have won All-Ireland medals in both codes.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Dual player | ||
| Football Position: | Forward | ||
| Hurling Position: | Forward | ||
| Born |
8 April 1880 Buttevant, County Cork, Ireland | ||
| Died |
12 November 1956 (aged 76) Cork, Ireland | ||
| Occupation | Publican | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
|
Blackrock Lees | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Football | Hurling | ||
| Cork titles | 7 | 6 | |
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
1903–1912 1901–1912 |
Cork (H) Cork (F) |
19 24 | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Football | Hurling | ||
| Munster Titles | 3 | 3 | |
| All-Ireland Titles | 1 | 1 | |
Career
editMackesy first came to prominence playing with Cork city-based clubs Blackrock and Lees. In a 12-year span from 1902 to 1914 he won a combined total of 13 County Championship medals across both codes including three hurling-football doubles. Mackesy first appeared on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork senior football team in 1901. His debut season with the Cork senior hurling team two years later ended with him claiming a winners' medal after a defeat of London in the All-Ireland final. Mackesy became Cork's first dual All-Ireland medal-winner in 1911 when he lined out with the Cork senior footballers in their All-Ireland final defeat of Antrim. After making 43 championship appearances he retired from inter-county duty in 1912, by which time Mackesy had also claimed six Munster Championship medals across both codes.[2][3]
Personal life
editMackesy was born in Buttevant, County Cork but began his business career after moving to Kinsale. He later worked as a draper in the Munster Arcade in Cork city before opening his first licensed premises in 1912. He opened a second on Oliver Plunkett Street six years later. Mackesy married Anne Glavin, who died during childbirth. The baby’s name was Aidan. He then married Eileen Sullivan and had 6 children.
Mackesy died at the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork on 12 November 1956. He had been in a ill health for a number of years with diabetes.[4]
Honours
edit- Blackrock
- Lees
- Cork
References
edit- ^ Breheny, Martin (28 August 2001). "Teddy sounds warning to dual chasing Kerins". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ^ "Senior hurling". Munster GAA website. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Senior Football". Munster GAA website. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ^ "Obituary of Billy Mackesy". Finbarr J. Connolly website. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
