Eileen Duffy
Encyclopedia
Eileen Duffy-O'Mahoney was an Irish
sportsperson who played senior camogie
with Dublin
from 1949 until 1957.
in her youth and quickly joined her local Celtic
camogie club. It was with this club that Duffy first tasted success, and she later won five Dublin county camogie titles. She quickly came to the attention of the Dublin
senior camogie selectors and made her senior inter-county debut in 1949.
goalkeeper when the first inter-provincial game was played in Navan to mark the Golden Jubilee
of Cumann Camogaíochta na nGael
in 1954. In 1956 Antrim
brought an end to Dublin's camogie dominance, however, "the Dubs" returned in 1957 with Duffy as captain. It was another successful year as she captured her eighth and final All-Ireland medal.
and Gráinne played for Dublin.
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 who played senior camogie
Camogie
Camogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....
with 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...
from 1949 until 1957.
Background
Eileen Duffy was born in Dublin. She showed great skill at the game of camogieCamogie
Camogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....
in her youth and quickly joined her local Celtic
Celtic Camogie Club
Celtic is a camogie club that won the All Ireland club championship in its first year 1964. Dublin did not send a representative in 1965, so they did not defend their title.-Grounds:The Celtic pitch was in Coolock...
camogie club. It was with this club that Duffy first tasted success, and she later won five Dublin county camogie titles. She quickly came to the attention of the 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...
senior camogie selectors and made her senior inter-county debut in 1949.
Career
It was a golden era for Dublin camogie, and Duffy won seven All-Ireland medals in-a-row, beginning in her debut year. Her skills were particularly noted in 1951 as she was named as Sports Star of the Year, an honour she won again in 1957. Three years later in 1954 Duffy was the 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...
goalkeeper when the first inter-provincial game was played in Navan to mark the Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee
A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...
of Cumann Camogaíochta na nGael
Camogie Association
The Camogie Association organises and promotes the sport of camogie in Ireland and across the world. The Association has close ties with the Gaelic Athletic Association.-History:...
in 1954. In 1956 Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
brought an end to Dublin's camogie dominance, however, "the Dubs" returned in 1957 with Duffy as captain. It was another successful year as she captured her eighth and final All-Ireland medal.
Citation
In 2004 Duffy was honoured by being named as the goalkeeper of the Camogie Team of the Century. Her citation read: "quick to react between the posts, sure and confident, she had a great understanding with her backs, her lengthy clearance and long puck out were other features of her game."Family
She retired from camogie after she got married because "it was not considered lady-like; to continue playing. Her daughters Niamh, Sheila and Gráinne played for CelticCeltic Camogie Club
Celtic is a camogie club that won the All Ireland club championship in its first year 1964. Dublin did not send a representative in 1965, so they did not defend their title.-Grounds:The Celtic pitch was in Coolock...
and Gráinne played for Dublin.