Jimmy Coffey
Encyclopedia
Jimmy 'Butler' Coffey was an Irish
sportsperson. He was born in Newport
, County Tipperary
. He played hurling
with his local Newport
club and was a member of the Tipperary
senior inter-county team from 1931 until 1940. Born in Newport
, County Tipperary
, Coffey held the distinction of being one of the oldest living senior All-Ireland
medal winners and turned 100 in October 2009.
Coffey died on 29 December 2010 aged 101.
with his local Newport
club and enjoyed some success. He won two North Tipperary titles with the club in 1932 and 1935. Coffey later played club hurling with Ahane
in County Limerick
and won two senior county titles
.
minor team in 1928. He won a Munster
title in this grade in 1930 before later collecting an All-Ireland
medal as Tipp defeated Kilkenny
.
Coffey made his senior debut for Tipp in 1931. It was a lean period for the county's senior hurling team as Limerick
dominated the Munster championship throughout the 1930s. Their monopoly was ended in 1937 as Coffey collected his first senior Munster
title. Due to a builders strike Croke Park
was unavailable so the subsequent All-Ireland final was played in FitzGerald Stadium
in Killarney
. Kilkenny provided the opposition, however, the game turned into a rout as Tipp defeated 'the Cats' on a score line of 3-11 to 0-3 giving Coffey a coveted All-Ireland
medal. Tipp went into decline following this match again and Coffey retired from inter-county hurling in 1940.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured a Railway Cup title with the province in 1938.
team that brought county titles to the parish in both junior and senior grades. He was also a selector with Mick Mackey
on the Limerick team that won the Munster title in 1955.
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 was born in Newport
Newport, County Tipperary
Newport is a town in North Tipperary in Ireland. It is part of the parish of Newport, Bridhill and Toor which is in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. It is in the barony of Owney and Arra.-Location:...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
. 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 Newport
Newport GAA
Newport GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football and hurling club located in the town of Newport in County Tipperary, Ireland. The club is part of the North Division of Tipperary GAA.-Lacken Park:Named after the Ryan name Lacken...
club and was a member of the 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...
senior inter-county team from 1931 until 1940. Born in Newport
Newport, County Tipperary
Newport is a town in North Tipperary in Ireland. It is part of the parish of Newport, Bridhill and Toor which is in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. It is in the barony of Owney and Arra.-Location:...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, Coffey held the distinction of being one of the oldest living senior 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 winners and turned 100 in October 2009.
Coffey died on 29 December 2010 aged 101.
Club
Coffey 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 his local Newport
Newport GAA
Newport GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football and hurling club located in the town of Newport in County Tipperary, Ireland. The club is part of the North Division of Tipperary GAA.-Lacken Park:Named after the Ryan name Lacken...
club and enjoyed some success. He won two North Tipperary titles with the club in 1932 and 1935. Coffey later played club hurling with Ahane
Ahane GAA
Ahane GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the Ahane, Castleconnell and Montpelier areas of east County Limerick, Republic of Ireland. The club fields teams in both hurling and football and historically is regarded as one of the great clubs of Limerick. Ahane's greatest players...
in County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
and won two senior county titles
Limerick Senior Hurling Championship
The Limerick Senior Hurling Championship is an annual club competition between the top Limerick Clubs. The winners of the Limerick Championship qualify to represent their county in the Munster Club Championship and in turn, go on to the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship...
.
Inter-county
Coffey first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the TipperaryTipperary 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...
minor team in 1928. 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...
title in this grade in 1930 before later collecting an 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 as Tipp defeated 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...
.
Coffey made his senior debut for Tipp in 1931. It was a lean period for the county's senior hurling team as 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...
dominated the Munster championship throughout the 1930s. Their monopoly was ended in 1937 as Coffey collected his first senior 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. Due to a builders strike Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
was unavailable so the subsequent All-Ireland final was played in FitzGerald Stadium
FitzGerald Stadium
Fitzgerald Stadium is the principal Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Killarney, Ireland, and is the home championship venue for the Kerry senior football team....
in Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
. Kilkenny provided the opposition, however, the game turned into a rout as Tipp defeated 'the Cats' on a score line of 3-11 to 0-3 giving Coffey 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. Tipp went into decline following this match again and Coffey retired from inter-county hurling in 1940.
Provincial
Coffey also lined out with MunsterMunster 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:...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured a Railway Cup title with the province in 1938.
Post-playing career
Following his retirement from hurling in the early 1950s Coffey did not sever his connection with the game. He trained the CappamoreCappamore
Cappamore is a small town in the barony of Owneybeg, northeast County Limerick in the midwest of Ireland. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.-Location and facilities:...
team that brought county titles to the parish in both junior and senior grades. He was also a selector with Mick Mackey
Mick Mackey
Michael ‘Mick’ Mackey was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the famous Ahane club from 1930 until 1948 and was a member of the Limerick senior inter-county team from 1930 until 1947. Mackey is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game...
on the Limerick team that won the Munster title in 1955.