Brendan Hennessy
Encyclopedia
Brendan Hennessy was a dual player from Ballyduff
, County Kerry
, Ireland
. He played both football and hurling
with New York
and hurling & minor football with Kerry
as well as his local Ballyduff
club in hurling and Ballydonoghue in football.
Hennessy spent most of his playing days in New York
where he played in a number of National Hurling League
finals in the 1950s until the 70's. He also played in a number of National Football League
finals, winning one in 1964 when New York beat Dublin
in the final. While in New York
Hennessy played hurling with the Kilkenny club, he never won a New York Senior Hurling Championship
but played in back to back finals in 1962 and 63. He played football with the Kerry club and won New York Senior Football Championship
medals in 1959, 1960, 1962–63, 1966–67. He also played with his brother Michael in New York. He is regarded as one of the best players to have ever played in New York
.
Before going to New York
he also played with Kerry
and won a Munster Junior Hurling Championship
title in 1955 with them.
Before going to New York
Hennsessy played with the famous Ballyduff club. Before 1955 the club had only won one Kerry Senior Hurling Championship in 1891, but in 1955, with his brother Michael as captain, Ballyduff won the championship for the first time since 1891. In 1957 Brendan himself captained Ballyduff to a championship win.
He went to school in the famous St. Flannan's College
in Ennis
where he was regarded as one of the best players to have played with the college along with the likes of Anthony Daly
, Len Gaynor
, Jamsie O'Connor and Tony Reddan to name just a few. He won Dr. Harty Cup
& Dr. Croke Cup
medals with the school during his time there.
In 2003 he won the Munster Council Hall of Fame Award for hurling.
Ballyduff
Four villages in the Republic of Ireland, and a housing estate in Northern Ireland, are named Ballyduff.*Ballyduff, County Kerry*Ballyduff, County Waterford near Lismore, County Waterford...
, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He played both football and hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with New York
New York GAA
The New York County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or New York GAA, is one of the county boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in the New York metropolitan area...
and hurling & minor football with Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
as well as his local Ballyduff
Ballyduff GAA
Ballyduff GAA may refer to:*Ballyduff Upper GAA, in Ballyduff Upper, County Waterford, Ireland*Ballyduff Lower GAA, in Ballyduff Lower, County Waterford, Ireland.*Ballyduff GAA, in Ballyduff, County Kerry, Ireland...
club in hurling and Ballydonoghue in football.
Hennessy spent most of his playing days in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where he played in a number of National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
finals in the 1950s until the 70's. He also played in a number of National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
finals, winning one in 1964 when New York beat Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
in the final. While in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Hennessy played hurling with the Kilkenny club, he never won a New York Senior Hurling Championship
New York Senior Hurling Championship
This is a competition between hurling clubs affiliated to the New York board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Most clubs are based on the counties of Ireland, though sometimes players will play with a different team in New York from their own county. The final is played in Gaelic Park in the...
but played in back to back finals in 1962 and 63. He played football with the Kerry club and won New York Senior Football Championship
New York Senior Football Championship
The New York Gaelic Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition for teams affiliated to the New York board of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
medals in 1959, 1960, 1962–63, 1966–67. He also played with his brother Michael in New York. He is regarded as one of the best players to have ever played in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Before going to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
he also played with Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
and won a Munster Junior Hurling Championship
Munster Junior Hurling Championship
The Munster Junior Hurling Championship is a junior "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council....
title in 1955 with them.
Before going to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Hennsessy played with the famous Ballyduff club. Before 1955 the club had only won one Kerry Senior Hurling Championship in 1891, but in 1955, with his brother Michael as captain, Ballyduff won the championship for the first time since 1891. In 1957 Brendan himself captained Ballyduff to a championship win.
He went to school in the famous St. Flannan's College
St. Flannan's College
Saint Flannan's College is an Irish secondary school located in Ennis, County Clare. Formerly an all-boys boarding school, the first girls class was entered in 2002 and in 2005 the boarding school was closed. In 2003 an extension which added over 20 new rooms to the college was completed...
in Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
where he was regarded as one of the best players to have played with the college along with the likes of Anthony Daly
Anthony Daly
Anthony Daly was a native of Rahruddy, a townland west of Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland, and a leader of the local Whiteboy movement...
, Len Gaynor
Len Gaynor
Len Gaynor is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Kilruane McDonagh's and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team in the 1960s and 1970s...
, Jamsie O'Connor and Tony Reddan to name just a few. He won Dr. Harty Cup
Dr. Harty Cup
The Dr. Harty Cup is a hurling competition for schools in the province of Munster in Ireland. The cup is presented to the winners of the Munster Colleges Senior "A" Hurling Championship. Players have to be under the age of 19 to compete. The winning team represents Munster in the Dr. Croke Cup...
& Dr. Croke Cup
Dr. Croke Cup
The Dr. Croke Cup is an inter-county GAA competition in hurling. The first Croke Cups took place between 1896 and 1915. Clare was the first winner of the Dr Croke Cup for Hurling in 1896. In 1909 Ulster were expelled from the Dr...
medals with the school during his time there.
In 2003 he won the Munster Council Hall of Fame Award for hurling.