Dermot Noel Kelly (25 December 1932 – 22 February 2023) was an Irish hurler. He lined out at club level with Claughaun and also played at inter-county level with Limerick.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Diarmuid Ó Ceallaig | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Centre-forward | ||
| Born |
25 December 1932[1] Limerick, Irish Free State | ||
| Died |
22 February 2023 (aged 90) Limerick, Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Nickname | The singing bank manager | ||
| Occupation | Bank manager | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| Claughaun | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Football | Hurling | ||
| Limerick titles | 2 | 3 | |
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | ||
1951–1959 | Limerick | ||
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 1 | ||
| All-Irelands | 0 | ||
| NHL | 0 | ||
Career edit
Kelly first played hurling as a schoolboy with CBS Sexton Street in the Harty Cup. He later lined out as a dual player with the Claughaun club and won three Limerick SHC medals and two Limerick SFC medals.[2]
Kelly first appeared on the inter-county scene with Limerick during a two-year stint with the minor team in 1949 and 1950. He immediately progressed on the senior team in 1951. Kelly enjoyed his greatest success with Limerick when he scored 1–12 to beat Clare in the 1955 Munster final.[3] He continued to line out with Limerick until 1959. Kelly also earned selection to the Munster team and won four Railway Cup medals in six seasons.[4]
Personal life and death edit
As well as his sporting career, Kelly was also known as a songwriter and performer. He was also a member of the College Players Limerick in the 1950s and was a member of Conradh na Gaeilge. Kelly worked with the Bank of Ireland.[5] His nephew, Stephen Lucey, was a dual player with Limerick.
Kelly was a renowned Irish ballad songwriter and composed many notable tunes including The Ballad Of Joseph McHugh about the famous Publican from Liscannor, County Clare. He was a past Captain and President of Lahinch Golf Club.
Kelly died on 22 February 2023, at the age of 90.[6]
Honours edit
- Claughaun
- Limerick Senior Football Championship: 1955, 1959
- Limerick Senior Hurling Championship: 1957, 1958, 1968
- Limerick
- Munster
- Railway Cup: 1955, 1957, 1958, 1960
References edit
- ^ "Dermot N Kelly". Find My Past website. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Sadness at passing of popular former Limerick hurler and musician Dermot Kelly". Limerick GAA website. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ O'Sullivan, P. M. (11 December 2020). "The one that got away: Limeick's generation that never tasted All-Ireland success". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Railway Cup Hurling". Munster GAA website. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Dermot Kelly: Father, husband, songwriter, poet, bank manager and hurling hero". The 42. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Sadness at passing of popular former Limerick hurler and musician Dermot Kelly". Limerick Leader. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.