Bill O'Callaghan
Encyclopedia
William Henry ‘Bill’ O’Callaghan (c.1869-1946) was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Redmond's
and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1890s. O’Callaghan captained Cork to All-Ireland
victory in 1892.
circa 1869. He was educated locally; however, like many of his contemporaries higher education was not available to him.
O'Callaghan emigrated to England
where he worked in Dorset
as a post office engineer. The couple had three daughters.
Bill O’Callaghan died on January 16, 1946 in Dorset.
with the famous Redmond's
club in Cork city. He won a senior county title
with the club in 1892.
and Aghabullogue
. O’Callaghan, as a Redmond’s player, was appointed captain. That year Cork reached the Munster final where Kerry
, the reigning provincial and All-Ireland champions, provided the opposition. In a high-scoring game Cork emerged victorious by 5-3 to 2-5. It was O’Callaghan’s first, and only, Munster
title. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Dublin
for the very first time in the championship. The game ended in farce as Cork scored a goal; however, referee Dan Fraher changed his mind after initially awarding the goal. He put forward the view that the Central Council of the GAA
should decide the matter. At this stage Cork were leading by 2-4 to 1-1, however, the Dublin team left the pitch as some of the players had to return to work. Because ‘the Dubs’ withdrew from the pitch the title was awarded to Cork and O’Callaghan collected a coveted All-Ireland
title. It was the county’s second title and the beginning of a famous three-in-a-row for Cork.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
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 Redmond's
Redmonds GAA
Redmonds is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Cork in County Cork, Ireland. The club participates in Cork GAA competitions and in Seandún divisional board competitions...
and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1890s. O’Callaghan captained Cork to 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....
victory in 1892.
Biography
William O’Callaghan was born in CorkCork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
circa 1869. He was educated locally; however, like many of his contemporaries higher education was not available to him.
O'Callaghan emigrated to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where he worked in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
as a post office engineer. The couple had three daughters.
Bill O’Callaghan died on January 16, 1946 in Dorset.
Club
O’Callaghan played his club hurlingHurling
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 the famous Redmond's
Redmonds GAA
Redmonds is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Cork in County Cork, Ireland. The club participates in Cork GAA competitions and in Seandún divisional board competitions...
club in Cork city. He won a senior county title
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
with the club in 1892.
Inter-county
The Redmond’s club victory in the county championship allowed them to represent Cork in the inter-county series. For the first time ever, however, the Cork inter-county team contained a mix of players, including representatives from BlackrockBlackrock GAA
Blackrock National Hurling Club is a G.A.A. club located on the southside of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1883 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-History:...
and Aghabullogue
Aghabullogue GAA
Aghabullogue GAA are a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Cork, Ireland. They are affiliated to the Cork County Board and play in the Mid Cork division of Cork GAA. Aghabullogue cater for both Gaelic football and hurling.-History:...
. O’Callaghan, as a Redmond’s player, was appointed captain. That year Cork reached the Munster final where 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...
, the reigning provincial and All-Ireland champions, provided the opposition. In a high-scoring game Cork emerged victorious by 5-3 to 2-5. It was O’Callaghan’s first, and only, 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....
title. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against 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...
for the very first time in the championship. The game ended in farce as Cork scored a goal; however, referee Dan Fraher changed his mind after initially awarding the goal. He put forward the view that the Central Council of the GAA
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
should decide the matter. At this stage Cork were leading by 2-4 to 1-1, however, the Dublin team left the pitch as some of the players had to return to work. Because ‘the Dubs’ withdrew from the pitch the title was awarded to Cork and O’Callaghan 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....
title. It was the county’s second title and the beginning of a famous three-in-a-row for Cork.