Nicky Rackard
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Rackard better known as Nicky or Nickey Rackard, was a famous Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local Rathnure
club and was a member of the Wexford
senior inter-county team from 1940 until 1956. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game.
Rackard’s status as one of the all-time greats is self-evident. In a senior inter-county career that lasted for sixteen years he won two All-Ireland
titles, four Leinster
titles, one National Hurling League
title and one Railway Cup title. His tally of 59 goals and 96 points from 36 championship games marks him out as one of the top ten scorers of all-time. Rackard is the all-time top-scorer in his native county of Wexford.
Rackard has also been the recipient of many awards and honours off the field. Although his career ended shortly before the prestigious Hurler of the Year award began, he was posthumously named in the full-forward position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Century
in 1984.
, County Wexford
in 1922. The eldest son in a family of five boys and four girls. His parents were Robert (Bob) Rackard and Anastasia Doran, who had been married in 1918. He was born into a family that was mildly interested in sport. His granduncle had played with the famous Wexford
football
team that captured four All-Ireland
titles in-a-row between 1915 and 1918. Rackard’s father Bob had planned that his son would play cricket
, however, young Rackard was much more interested in Gaelic games
. He was educated locally and later attended St. Kierans College, Kilkenny
, a virtual academy for young hurling
talent. Rackard later attended University College Dublin
where he studied to be a veterinary surgeon
. In all, his studies took eight years to complete because of his huge commitment to his sporting exploits.
club and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title in 1948. It was Rathnure’s first ever championship triumph. Two years later in 1950 Rackard captured a second county title, a victory which allowed him to take over the captaincy of the county senior team for the following year. He won his third and final county medal in 1955.
title in 1951. Wexford later faced Tipperary
in the All-Ireland final, a team that was attempting to capture a third championship title in-a-row. The game itself saw Rackard give a remarkable display of hurling artistry; however, Tipp’s forward line ran riot and scored seven goals. The final score of 7-7 to 3-9 tells its own story.
Wexford lost their Leinster crown in 1952, however, two years later in 1954 Wexford regained the title following a huge victory over Dublin
. That game saw Rackard score a grand total of five goals and five points from Wexford’s tally of 8-5. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Wexford face Antrim
. Once again, Rackard ran riot in the forward line and amassed a personal tally of seven goals and seven points. A 12-17 to 2-3 victory gace Wexford an easy passage to the championship decider where they faced Cork. On this occasion ‘the Rebels’ were attempting to capture a third All-Ireland title on the trot and a record crowd turned out in Croke Park
to see Rackard and Christy Ring
do battle. In the end it was Johnny Clifford
who turned out to be the hero as Cork won the day on a score line of 1-9 to 1-6.
In 1955 Rackard won his third Leinster title, however, an All-Ireland medal still eluded his collection. Wexford later defeated Limerick
in the All-Ireland semi-final before later facing Galway
in the championship decider. At half-time the men from the West led by 2-5 to 2-3, however a Tim Flood
goal nine minutes from full-time gave Wexford a deserved 3-13 to 2-8 win. It was the county’s first championship title since 1910 and it was Rackard’s first All-Ireland medal. In 1956 Wexford captured their first National Hurling League
title and breezed through the provincial championship once again with Rackard collecting his fourth Leinster title. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Wexford aiming to retain their title and gain revenge over Cork for the defeat in 1954. The game has gone down in history as one of the all-time classics as Christy Ring was bidding for a ninth All-Ireland medal. The game turned on one important incident as the Wexford goalkeeper, Art Foley
, made a miraculous save from a Ring shot and cleared the sliothar up the field to set up another attack. Rackard scored a crucial goal with two minutes to go giving Wexford a 2-14 to 2-8 victory. In spite of Cork's loss Wexford’s Nick O'Donnell
and Bobby Rackard
, in an unparalleled display of sportsmanship in any game, raised Christy Ring onto their shoulders and carried him off the field. Wexford had won the game but there was no doubt in their minds that the real hero was Ring. After defeat in the Leinster final of 1957 Nicky Rackard decided to retire from inter-county hurling.
team that participated in the annual Railway Cup inter-provincial series. Munster
dominated the competition at this time; however, he captured his sole Railway Cup title in 1956.
in 1957, however, Rackard began drinking again and the habit grew progressively worse over the next 12 years. In 1965, then a serious alcoholic, he had his first period of hospitalisation to treat the illness. At that stage he was drinking daily, however, the treatment didn't work. He finally quit by 1970 after joining Alcoholics Anonymous
. When Rackard quit drink for the final time he was practically broke. He pieced his life together again, rebuilt his veterinary practice and indulged his passion for horses, enjoying wins in point-to-points and other major race events.
With the AA he travelled the country helping people who were troubled by alcohol. In February, 1974 Rackard noticed strange lumps on his neck which he had later removed. Later that year he was told he needed another operation and was said to be making good progress. In 1975 he spoke out in the Irish Press newspaper about his alcoholism, becoming one of the first people to break the taboo of alcoholism in Ireland
. Shortly after this it was revealed that the cancer that had previously troubled him had unfortunately not been completely annihilated and had returned. Rackard died at St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin in 1976 and was universally mourned by the GAA community throughout Ireland.
in 1984. He was not named on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
in 2000, with the full-forward position going to Cork's Ray Cummins
. His scoring prowess has also earned Rackard a place on the top ten list of all-time scoring greats. In 2005 the GAA further honoured Rackard by naming the Nicky Rackard Cup
, the hurling competition for Division 3 teams, in his honour.
In 2006, a Wexford author, Tom Williams, wrote a long-overdue biography
of Rackard entitled Cuchullain's Son - The Story of Nickey Rackard. The same author also penned a now well-known song about Rackard many years earlier. It too was called Cuchullain's Son and has been recorded by various artists over the last 20 years and is a lament
for the great sportsman.
Tom Williams 'Cuchulainn's son - The Story of Nickey Rackard' Blackwater Press 2006. ISBN No 1-8471-010-3.
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 Rathnure
Rathnure GAA
Rathnure St. Anne’s is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Rathnure, County Wexford, Ireland. Rathnure's most famous players are the Rackards and Quigley brothers.-First AGM:...
club and was a member of the Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
senior inter-county team from 1940 until 1956. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game.
Rackard’s status as one of the all-time greats is self-evident. In a senior inter-county career that lasted for sixteen years he won two 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....
titles, four 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....
titles, one National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
title and one Railway Cup title. His tally of 59 goals and 96 points from 36 championship games marks him out as one of the top ten scorers of all-time. Rackard is the all-time top-scorer in his native county of Wexford.
Rackard has also been the recipient of many awards and honours off the field. Although his career ended shortly before the prestigious Hurler of the Year award began, he was posthumously named in the full-forward position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Century
GAA Hurling Team of the Century
The Hurling Team of the Century was chosen as part of the Gaelic Athletic Association's centenary year celebrations in 1984 to comprise, as a fifteen-member side divided as one goalkeeper, three half-backs, two midfielders, three half-forwardss and three full-forwards, the best hurling players of...
in 1984.
Early life
Nicky Rackard was born in KillanneKillanne
Killanne is a rural crossroads settlement situated roughly 12 miles west of Enniscorthy in Wexford, Ireland.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...
, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
in 1922. The eldest son in a family of five boys and four girls. His parents were Robert (Bob) Rackard and Anastasia Doran, who had been married in 1918. He was born into a family that was mildly interested in sport. His granduncle had played with the famous Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
team that captured four All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
titles in-a-row between 1915 and 1918. Rackard’s father Bob had planned that his son would play cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, however, young Rackard was much more interested in Gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
. He was educated locally and later attended St. Kierans College, Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, a virtual academy for young 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...
talent. Rackard later attended University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
where he studied to be a veterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon is a term used to describe:*The full title of a vet, who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals, in the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth countries**See also Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom...
. In all, his studies took eight years to complete because of his huge commitment to his sporting exploits.
Club
Rackard played his club hurling with his local RathnureRathnure GAA
Rathnure St. Anne’s is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Rathnure, County Wexford, Ireland. Rathnure's most famous players are the Rackards and Quigley brothers.-First AGM:...
club and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title in 1948. It was Rathnure’s first ever championship triumph. Two years later in 1950 Rackard captured a second county title, a victory which allowed him to take over the captaincy of the county senior team for the following year. He won his third and final county medal in 1955.
Inter-county
Rackard’s early successes on the inter-county scene were as a footballer with the Wexford team. At the time the county’s hurling team was in the doldrums, however, things were about to change. Rackard made his debut for the county team in 1940 and spent much of the decade at midfield. By the start of the 1950s he had moved into the forward lines and it was here that he captured his first LeinsterLeinster 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 in 1951. Wexford later faced 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...
in the All-Ireland final, a team that was attempting to capture a third championship title in-a-row. The game itself saw Rackard give a remarkable display of hurling artistry; however, Tipp’s forward line ran riot and scored seven goals. The final score of 7-7 to 3-9 tells its own story.
Wexford lost their Leinster crown in 1952, however, two years later in 1954 Wexford regained the title following a huge victory over 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...
. That game saw Rackard score a grand total of five goals and five points from Wexford’s tally of 8-5. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Wexford face 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...
. Once again, Rackard ran riot in the forward line and amassed a personal tally of seven goals and seven points. A 12-17 to 2-3 victory gace Wexford an easy passage to the championship decider where they faced Cork. On this occasion ‘the Rebels’ were attempting to capture a third All-Ireland title on the trot and a record crowd turned out in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
to see Rackard and Christy Ring
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
do battle. In the end it was Johnny Clifford
Johnny Clifford
Johnny Clifford was an Irish hurling manager and player. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1950s...
who turned out to be the hero as Cork won the day on a score line of 1-9 to 1-6.
In 1955 Rackard won his third Leinster title, however, an All-Ireland medal still eluded his collection. Wexford later defeated 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...
in the All-Ireland semi-final before later facing 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,...
in the championship decider. At half-time the men from the West led by 2-5 to 2-3, however a Tim Flood
Tim Flood
Thomas Timothy Flood , is a former professional baseball player who played second base for the St...
goal nine minutes from full-time gave Wexford a deserved 3-13 to 2-8 win. It was the county’s first championship title since 1910 and it was Rackard’s first All-Ireland medal. In 1956 Wexford captured their first National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
title and breezed through the provincial championship once again with Rackard collecting his fourth Leinster title. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Wexford aiming to retain their title and gain revenge over Cork for the defeat in 1954. The game has gone down in history as one of the all-time classics as Christy Ring was bidding for a ninth All-Ireland medal. The game turned on one important incident as the Wexford goalkeeper, Art Foley
Art Foley
Michael Arthur Foley , better known as Art Foley, is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club St. Aidan's of Enniscorthy and with the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1946 until 1956.-Club:...
, made a miraculous save from a Ring shot and cleared the sliothar up the field to set up another attack. Rackard scored a crucial goal with two minutes to go giving Wexford a 2-14 to 2-8 victory. In spite of Cork's loss Wexford’s Nick O'Donnell
Nick O'Donnell
Nick O'Donnell was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Éire Óg in Kilkenny and St. Aidan’s in Wexford. He was also a member of both the Kilkenny and Wexford senior inter-county teams from 1947 until 1962...
and Bobby Rackard
Bobby Rackard
Bobby Rackard was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Rathnure and with the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1945 until 1957. Rackard is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time.-Club:...
, in an unparalleled display of sportsmanship in any game, raised Christy Ring onto their shoulders and carried him off the field. Wexford had won the game but there was no doubt in their minds that the real hero was Ring. After defeat in the Leinster final of 1957 Nicky Rackard decided to retire from inter-county hurling.
Inter-provincial
By the late 1940s Rackard became a key feature on 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...
team that participated in the annual Railway Cup inter-provincial series. Munster
Munster 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:...
dominated the competition at this time; however, he captured his sole Railway Cup title in 1956.
Post-playing career
Rackard's personal life away from the hurling pitch was a deeply troubled one, marred by excessive drinking. His problems with alcohol began while he was studying to be a veterinary surgeon in Dublin. In 1951 he suddenly gave up alcohol in a pledge not to drink again after a friend, who was a priest, died. When Wexford celebrated All-Ireland success in 1955 and 1956 Rackard was a tea-totaller. During a visit to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1957, however, Rackard began drinking again and the habit grew progressively worse over the next 12 years. In 1965, then a serious alcoholic, he had his first period of hospitalisation to treat the illness. At that stage he was drinking daily, however, the treatment didn't work. He finally quit by 1970 after joining Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
. When Rackard quit drink for the final time he was practically broke. He pieced his life together again, rebuilt his veterinary practice and indulged his passion for horses, enjoying wins in point-to-points and other major race events.
With the AA he travelled the country helping people who were troubled by alcohol. In February, 1974 Rackard noticed strange lumps on his neck which he had later removed. Later that year he was told he needed another operation and was said to be making good progress. In 1975 he spoke out in the Irish Press newspaper about his alcoholism, becoming one of the first people to break the taboo of alcoholism in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Shortly after this it was revealed that the cancer that had previously troubled him had unfortunately not been completely annihilated and had returned. Rackard died at St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin in 1976 and was universally mourned by the GAA community throughout Ireland.
Recognition
Nicky Rackard is generally regarded as perhaps one of the greatest hurlers of all-time. He was personally honoured by being posthumously named on the GAA Hurling Team of the CenturyGAA Hurling Team of the Century
The Hurling Team of the Century was chosen as part of the Gaelic Athletic Association's centenary year celebrations in 1984 to comprise, as a fifteen-member side divided as one goalkeeper, three half-backs, two midfielders, three half-forwardss and three full-forwards, the best hurling players of...
in 1984. He was not named on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
The GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium was announced by GAA President Seán McCague at a special dinner at Croke Park on 24 July 2000. The initiative was sponsored by An Post who issued special commemorative stamps of the Millennium team members. The team was chosen to comprise, as a...
in 2000, with the full-forward position going to Cork's Ray Cummins
Ray Cummins
Ray Cummins is a retired Irish sportsperson. A dual player at the highest levels, he played hurling with his local club Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1969 until 1982. Cummins also played Gaelic football with his local club St...
. His scoring prowess has also earned Rackard a place on the top ten list of all-time scoring greats. In 2005 the GAA further honoured Rackard by naming the Nicky Rackard Cup
Nicky Rackard Cup
The Nicky Rackard Cup is a competition for the Tier 3 hurling teams of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The tournament is organised by the [Gaelic Athletic Association]] and is played during the summer months with the final being played in Croke Park, Dublin...
, the hurling competition for Division 3 teams, in his honour.
In 2006, a Wexford author, Tom Williams, wrote a long-overdue biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
of Rackard entitled Cuchullain's Son - The Story of Nickey Rackard. The same author also penned a now well-known song about Rackard many years earlier. It too was called Cuchullain's Son and has been recorded by various artists over the last 20 years and is a lament
Lament
A lament or lamentation is a song, poem, or piece of music expressing grief, regret, or mourning.-History:Many of the oldest and most lasting poems in human history have been laments. Laments are present in both the Iliad and the Odyssey, and laments continued to be sung in elegiacs accompanied by...
for the great sportsman.
Teams
External links
- Sunday Tribune Article on Nicky Rackard
- Hoganstand.com Article on the Rackards
- Profile of the Rackard Brothers
Tom Williams 'Cuchulainn's son - The Story of Nickey Rackard' Blackwater Press 2006. ISBN No 1-8471-010-3.
Sources
- Colm Keane, Hurling's Top 20. Mainstream Publishing, 2002.
- Billy RackardBilly RackardBilly Rackard was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Rathnure and was a member of the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1950 until 1964.-Early life:...
, No Hurling at the Dairy Door. Dublin: Blackwater Press, 1996. ISBN 0-86121-893-0.