Locky Byrne
Encyclopedia
Loughlin 'Locky' Byrne (1914–1941) was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
at various times with his local clubs Ferrybank
, Mooncoin, Slieverue and Mount Sion. Byrne also lined out with both the Waterford
and the Kilkenny
senior inter-county teams in the 1930s and 1940s.
in 1914. The son of a railyard worker called Dashy Byrne, he was raised in Ferrybank on the Waterford-Kilkenny border.
in 1928 when he won a minor county title
with the club. Byrne later joined the famous Mooncoin club in Kilkenny. Here he enjoyed further success when he captured a senior county title in 1936 He also lined out with Slieverue during this period. Byrne later joined the famous Mount Sion clin in Waterford city and shared in some of that club's famous victories. He won his first senior county title with Mount Sion in 1938. It was the first of three consecutive county titles as Byrne colelcted two more county medals in 1939 and 1940.
minor hurling team in the late 1920s. He was only fifteen years-old when he won a Munster
minor title in 1929 following a 7-5 to 0-2 thrashin of Tipperary
. Waterford later qualified for the All-Ireland final where, surprisingly, Meath
provided the opposition. The men from the Déise dominated completely and went on to win by 5-0 to 1-1 giving Byrne a coveted All-Ireland
medal.
Byrne was later drafted onto the Waterford senior hurling panel. He was only seventeen when he played in the 1931 Munster final with Cork providing the opposition. A close, exciting game developed, however, with time running out Waterford were winning by a single point. Cork, however, had the luck on the day as eight minutes of injury time allowed them to score the equalising point and draw the game. The replay was more conclusive as Cork won by 5-4 to 1-2, ending Waterford's championship campaign.
By the mid-1930s Byrne had crossed the border and was playing with the KIlkenny
senior inter-county team. He played in the Leinster decider of 1934, however, Dublin
were the winners on that occasion. The following year Byrne was still on the team as Kilkenny defeated Laois
to take the Leinster
title. Byrne later line dout in his first All-Ireland final at senior level. Limerick
provided the opposition on that occasion and were the red-hot favourites. They were the reigning National League and All-Ireland champions and had played a remarkable 31 games without defeat. A record crowd of over 46,000 turned up to watch a hurling classic. In spite of rain falling throughout the entire game both sides served up a great game. At the beginning of the second-half Lory Meagher
sent over a huge point from midfield giving Kilkenny an inspirational lead which they wouldn’t surrender. As a result of this victory Byrne collected a coveted All-Ireland
medal.
By 1938 Byrne was back on the Waterford senior team. That year his side reached the Munster final with Clare
providing the opposition. In a close game Waterford emerged as the victors on a score line of 3-5 to 2-5. Not only was it Byrne's first Munster
medal but it was also the first time that Waterford had won the provincial title. Waterford later accounted for Galway
allowing Byrne's side to advance to their first-ever All-Ireland final. Dublin
provided the opposition on that occasion and the game turned out to be a good one. Declan Goode scored a goal for the Decies after just six minutes, however, Dublin fought back with goals of their won. Eventually, victory went to ‘the Dubs’ on a score line of 2-5 to 1-6.
and came off with a coat wrapped around himself. He sat in the wet grass on the sideline for the remainder of the game, however, he contracted tuberculosis
as a result of this. His health steadily declined over the next few months, however, he continued hurling. Byrne died in January 1941 aged twenty-seven.
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...
at various times with his local clubs Ferrybank
Ferrybank GAA
Ferrybank GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Waterford City, Republic of Ireland. It is situated in the suburb of Ferrybank on the north bank of the River Suir. There has been a long tradition of Gaelic Games in Ferrybank since the first team known as the Davis's was formed in the...
, Mooncoin, Slieverue and Mount Sion. Byrne also lined out with both the Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
and 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 teams in the 1930s and 1940s.
Biography
Loughlin Byrne was born in the Glen area of WaterfordWaterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
in 1914. The son of a railyard worker called Dashy Byrne, he was raised in Ferrybank on the Waterford-Kilkenny border.
Club
Byrne played his club hurling with a selection of famous clubs in both Waterford and Kilkenny. He first tasted success with FerrybankFerrybank GAA
Ferrybank GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Waterford City, Republic of Ireland. It is situated in the suburb of Ferrybank on the north bank of the River Suir. There has been a long tradition of Gaelic Games in Ferrybank since the first team known as the Davis's was formed in the...
in 1928 when he won a minor county title
Waterford Minor Hurling Championship
The Waterford Minor Hurling Championship is a hurling competition played by GAA teams in Waterford in Ireland. All players have to be under the age of 18 in the year in which they take part here. The competition is organized by the two divisions of Waterford GAA county board - East Division and...
with the club. Byrne later joined the famous Mooncoin club in Kilkenny. Here he enjoyed further success when he captured a senior county title in 1936 He also lined out with Slieverue during this period. Byrne later joined the famous Mount Sion clin in Waterford city and shared in some of that club's famous victories. He won his first senior county title with Mount Sion in 1938. It was the first of three consecutive county titles as Byrne colelcted two more county medals in 1939 and 1940.
Inter-county
Byrne first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the WaterfordWaterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
minor hurling team in the late 1920s. He was only fifteen years-old when he won a Munster
Munster Minor Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
minor title in 1929 following a 7-5 to 0-2 thrashin of 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...
. Waterford later qualified for the All-Ireland final where, surprisingly, Meath
Meath GAA
The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
provided the opposition. The men from the Déise dominated completely and went on to win by 5-0 to 1-1 giving Byrne a coveted All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
medal.
Byrne was later drafted onto the Waterford senior hurling panel. He was only seventeen when he played in the 1931 Munster final with Cork providing the opposition. A close, exciting game developed, however, with time running out Waterford were winning by a single point. Cork, however, had the luck on the day as eight minutes of injury time allowed them to score the equalising point and draw the game. The replay was more conclusive as Cork won by 5-4 to 1-2, ending Waterford's championship campaign.
By the mid-1930s Byrne had crossed the border and was playing with 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. He played in the Leinster decider of 1934, however, 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...
were the winners on that occasion. The following year Byrne was still on the team as Kilkenny defeated Laois
Laois GAA
The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.-History:...
to take the 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....
title. Byrne later line dout in his first All-Ireland final at senior level. Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
provided the opposition on that occasion and were the red-hot favourites. They were the reigning National League and All-Ireland champions and had played a remarkable 31 games without defeat. A record crowd of over 46,000 turned up to watch a hurling classic. In spite of rain falling throughout the entire game both sides served up a great game. At the beginning of the second-half Lory Meagher
Lory Meagher
Lorenzo Ignatius Meagher , better known as Lory Meagher, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Tullaroan and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1924 until 1937...
sent over a huge point from midfield giving Kilkenny an inspirational lead which they wouldn’t surrender. As a result of this victory Byrne collected a coveted 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....
medal.
By 1938 Byrne was back on the Waterford senior team. That year his side reached the Munster final with Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
providing the opposition. In a close game Waterford emerged as the victors on a score line of 3-5 to 2-5. Not only was it Byrne's first Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster 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 Munster in Ireland....
medal but it was also the first time that Waterford had won the provincial title. Waterford later accounted for Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
allowing Byrne's side to advance to their first-ever All-Ireland final. 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...
provided the opposition on that occasion and the game turned out to be a good one. Declan Goode scored a goal for the Decies after just six minutes, however, Dublin fought back with goals of their won. Eventually, victory went to ‘the Dubs’ on a score line of 2-5 to 1-6.
Death
In 1940 Byrne got injured playing a club match against PortlawPortlaw GAA
Portlaw GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Portlaw, County Waterford, Ireland. The club enters teams in both codes. Portlaw have been quite successful in hurling having won the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship on 6 occasions.-Honours:...
and came off with a coat wrapped around himself. He sat in the wet grass on the sideline for the remainder of the game, however, he contracted tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
as a result of this. His health steadily declined over the next few months, however, he continued hurling. Byrne died in January 1941 aged twenty-seven.