Liam Reidy
Encyclopedia
Liam Reidy was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Éire Óg and was a member of the Kilkenny
senior inter-county team from the 1940s until the 1950.
, County Kilkenny
in 1924. He was educated at the local national school and later attended the famed St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny
, a virtual bursery for young hurling talent. Here Reidy began his hurling career in earnest and collected a Leinster junior colleges' championship medal with St Kieran's.
Following his education Reidy was the founder of the highly successful Reidy Insurance Business on Parliament Street in Kilkenny.
minor hurling team in the early 1940s. He won a Leinster
title in this grade in 1942 following a 3-10 to 0-4 defeat of Dublin
, however, the subsequent All-Ireland series of games were later suspended.
In 1945 Reidy was a key member of the KIlkenny senior team. That year he won his first Leinster
winners' medal, however, he didn't line out in the subsequent All-Ireland final. Tipperary
provided the opposition on that occasion. Almost 70,000 people packed into Croke Park
to witness a classic encounter, with 5,000 more fans being locked out of the stadium. Tipp took the lead at half-time, however, Kilkenny fought back with three second-half goals. In spite of this Tipp held on to win the game by 5-6 to 3-6.
Reidy missed Kilkenny's Leinster final triumph in 1946, however, he was back on the team for the All-Ireland final with Cork. The game itself pitted Cork against old rivals Kilkenny for the first time since 1939. Two quick goals just before half-time put Cork in the driving seat. Five more goals followed in the second period as Cork were the 7-5 to 3-8 winners.
Reidy won a second Leinster title following a defeat of Dublin
in 1947. The All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year as Cork and Kilkenny did battle again. In what has been described by many as the greatest hurling decider of all-time Mossy O'Riordan
and Joe Kelly scored two goals that almost won the game for Cork. Kilkenny, however, fought back with Terry Leahy
and Jim Langton
leading the charge and eventually won the game by 'the usual point' on a score line of 0-14 to 2-7. It was Reidy's first, and onle, All-Ireland
winners' medal.
1950 saw Reidy win a third Leinster title. He later line dout in another All-Ireland final, however, on this occasion Tipperary won the game by a single point. Following this defeat Reidy's involvement at inter-county level ended.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition, however, due to Munster
's domination he never won a Railway Cup medal.
Reidy served as honorary secretary of Kilkenny Golf Club for a number of years, became captain of the club in 1970 and was honoured with the club presidency in the years 1985-86. He became the first Kilkenny member elected to the Leinster branch of the Golfing Union of Ireland
(GUI) and was treasurer of the branch for some years before being elected chairman in 1987.
This led to his selection as president of the GUI in 1992, a position which he filled with style and distinction. During that year REidy presided over the third successive win for the Irish team in the Home International Championship.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. He played 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 his local club Éire Óg and was a member of the Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
senior inter-county team from the 1940s until the 1950.
Biography
Liam Reidy was born in KilmacowKilmacow
Kilmacow or Killmacow is a small village and townland in south County Kilkenny, Ireland.-Geography:Situated about 7 km south of Mullinavat and 8 km north from Waterford City, Kilmacow consists of an Upper and Lower Village approximately 1 km apart...
, County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
in 1924. He was educated at the local national school and later attended the famed St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, a virtual bursery for young hurling talent. Here Reidy began his hurling career in earnest and collected a Leinster junior colleges' championship medal with St Kieran's.
Following his education Reidy was the founder of the highly successful Reidy Insurance Business on Parliament Street in Kilkenny.
Club
Reidy played his club hurling with his local Éire Óg club and enjoyed much success. The 1940s saw Éire Óg enjoy some great victories, with Reidy winning three county championship titles in four years.Inter-county
Reidy first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the KilkennyKilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
minor hurling team in the early 1940s. He won a Leinster
Leinster Minor Hurling Championship
The ESB Leinster Minor Hurling Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council...
title in this grade in 1942 following a 3-10 to 0-4 defeat of 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...
, however, the subsequent All-Ireland series of games were later suspended.
In 1945 Reidy was a key member of the KIlkenny senior team. That year he won his first Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
winners' medal, however, he didn't line out in the subsequent All-Ireland final. Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
provided the opposition on that occasion. Almost 70,000 people packed into Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
to witness a classic encounter, with 5,000 more fans being locked out of the stadium. Tipp took the lead at half-time, however, Kilkenny fought back with three second-half goals. In spite of this Tipp held on to win the game by 5-6 to 3-6.
Reidy missed Kilkenny's Leinster final triumph in 1946, however, he was back on the team for the All-Ireland final with Cork. The game itself pitted Cork against old rivals Kilkenny for the first time since 1939. Two quick goals just before half-time put Cork in the driving seat. Five more goals followed in the second period as Cork were the 7-5 to 3-8 winners.
Reidy won a second Leinster title following a defeat of 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 1947. The All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year as Cork and Kilkenny did battle again. In what has been described by many as the greatest hurling decider of all-time Mossy O'Riordan
Mossy O'Riordan
Maurice Francis "Mossy" O'Riordan was an Irish sportsperson who played hurling with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1940s and 1950s....
and Joe Kelly scored two goals that almost won the game for Cork. Kilkenny, however, fought back with Terry Leahy
Terry Leahy (hurler)
Terry Leahy was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Emeralds in Kilkenny and Faughs in Dublin...
and Jim Langton
Jim Langton
Jim Langton was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Éire Óg and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1954. Langton's inclusion on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium mark him out as one of the greatest players of all-time.-Club:Langton played his...
leading the charge and eventually won the game by 'the usual point' on a score line of 0-14 to 2-7. It was Reidy's first, and onle, All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
winners' medal.
1950 saw Reidy win a third Leinster title. He later line dout in another All-Ireland final, however, on this occasion Tipperary won the game by a single point. Following this defeat Reidy's involvement at inter-county level ended.
Provincial
Reidy also line dout with LeinsterLeinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition, however, due to Munster
Munster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
's domination he never won a Railway Cup medal.
Retirement
On taking up golf in 1951 Reidy quickly proved his skill at the game by getting his handicap down to four within a few years and by winning the club match-play championship twice in those years. He represented the club on two Barton Cup winning sides, in 1953 and 1966, and in between also played on the Provincial Towns Cup winning team in 1955. Perhaps his greatest triumph came in 1957 when he won the Waterford Glass Trophy (Scratch Cup) from an elite field.Reidy served as honorary secretary of Kilkenny Golf Club for a number of years, became captain of the club in 1970 and was honoured with the club presidency in the years 1985-86. He became the first Kilkenny member elected to the Leinster branch of the Golfing Union of Ireland
Golfing Union of Ireland
The Golfing Union of Ireland is the governing body for men's and boy's amateur golf in Ireland. It represents over 430 golf clubs with over 180,000 members and is affiliated to The R&A, which is the global governing body of golf outside the United States and Mexico.The GUI was established in 1891...
(GUI) and was treasurer of the branch for some years before being elected chairman in 1987.
This led to his selection as president of the GUI in 1992, a position which he filled with style and distinction. During that year REidy presided over the third successive win for the Irish team in the Home International Championship.