Paddy Phelan
Encyclopedia
Paddy Phelan was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Tullaroan
and with the Kilkenny
senior inter-county team in the 1930s. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time.
with the famous Tullaroan
club, although he was actually from neighbouring Freshford
. He enjoyed much success and won senior county titles in 1930, 1933, and 1934.
senior hurling team in 1931. That year he won his first Leinster
title and later played in three-game epic of All-Ireland finals against Cork. Both teams finished all square in the first two games, however, Cork won by ten points following the second replay. Phelan won his second Leinster medal in 1932 and Kilkenny once again qualified for the All-Ireland final. ‘The cats’ defeated Clare
by a goal on that occasion and Phelan captured his first All-Ireland
medal. Phelan won a National Hurling League
medal at the start of 1933 before winning a third consecutive provincial title. Once again, Kilkenny qualified for a third consecutive All-Ireland final appearance. On the day Limerick
were defeated by Kilkenny and Phelan added a second All-Ireland medal to his collection. Kilkenny lost their provincial crown in 1934, however, the team returned in 1935 and Phelan won a fourth Leinster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a repeat of the 1933 final and Kilkenny ended as the victors by a single point with Phelan collecting his third All-Ireland title.
1936 saw Phelan winning a fifth provincial medal and Kilkenny qualified for yet another All-Ireland final appearance. For the third time in four years Kilkenny faced Limerick in the championship decider, however, unlike the other two appearances Limerick were the winners. In 1937 Kilkenny continued their provincial dominance and Phelan picked up a sixth Leinster title. In the subsequent All-Ireland final ‘the Cats’ faced Tipperary
, however, victory went to the Munster men on an impressive score line of 3-11 to 0-3. Kilkenny lost their provincial title in 1938, however, the team returned in 1939 with Phelan winning a seventh Leinster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final against Cork has gone down in history as the famous ‘thunder and lightning’ final as a huge downpour interrupted play. In the end victory went to Kilkenny by a single point, and Phelan won his fourth All-Ireland medal. In 1940 he won an eighth Leinster medal, however, Kilkenny were subsequently defeated by Limerick in the All-Ireland final. This turned out to be Phelan’s last final appearance. Kilkenny were suspended from the championship for the following few years due to a foot-and-mouth outbreak in the county. Phelan then retired from inter-county hurling.
. His status as one of the all-time greats was further copperfastened in 1999 when he was named on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
and the Kilkenny Hurling Team of the Century. His grand-nephew, D.J. Carey, played hurling with Kilkenny in the 1990s and 2000s and is regarded as one of the modern greats of the game.
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 Tullaroan
Tullaroan GAA
Tullaroan is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the village of Tullaroan in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1884 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling. Tullaroan is the most successful club in the history of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling...
and with the 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...
senior inter-county team in the 1930s. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time.
Club
Phelan 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 Tullaroan
Tullaroan GAA
Tullaroan is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the village of Tullaroan in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1884 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling. Tullaroan is the most successful club in the history of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling...
club, although he was actually from neighbouring Freshford
Freshford, Ireland
Freshford is a village in the barony of Crannagh, County Kilkenny, Ireland.-History:The village is the site of a monastery dating to the early 7th century...
. He enjoyed much success and won senior county titles in 1930, 1933, and 1934.
Inter-county
Phelan first came to prominence as a member of the KilkennyKilkenny 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...
senior hurling team in 1931. That year he won his first 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....
title and later played in three-game epic of All-Ireland finals against Cork. Both teams finished all square in the first two games, however, Cork won by ten points following the second replay. Phelan won his second Leinster medal in 1932 and Kilkenny once again qualified for the All-Ireland final. ‘The cats’ defeated Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
by a goal on that occasion and Phelan captured his first 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. Phelan won a 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...
medal at the start of 1933 before winning a third consecutive provincial title. Once again, Kilkenny qualified for a third consecutive All-Ireland final appearance. On the day 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...
were defeated by Kilkenny and Phelan added a second All-Ireland medal to his collection. Kilkenny lost their provincial crown in 1934, however, the team returned in 1935 and Phelan won a fourth Leinster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a repeat of the 1933 final and Kilkenny ended as the victors by a single point with Phelan collecting his third All-Ireland title.
1936 saw Phelan winning a fifth provincial medal and Kilkenny qualified for yet another All-Ireland final appearance. For the third time in four years Kilkenny faced Limerick in the championship decider, however, unlike the other two appearances Limerick were the winners. In 1937 Kilkenny continued their provincial dominance and Phelan picked up a sixth Leinster title. In the subsequent All-Ireland final ‘the Cats’ 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...
, however, victory went to the Munster men on an impressive score line of 3-11 to 0-3. Kilkenny lost their provincial title in 1938, however, the team returned in 1939 with Phelan winning a seventh Leinster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final against Cork has gone down in history as the famous ‘thunder and lightning’ final as a huge downpour interrupted play. In the end victory went to Kilkenny by a single point, and Phelan won his fourth All-Ireland medal. In 1940 he won an eighth Leinster medal, however, Kilkenny were subsequently defeated by Limerick in the All-Ireland final. This turned out to be Phelan’s last final appearance. Kilkenny were suspended from the championship for the following few years due to a foot-and-mouth outbreak in the county. Phelan then retired from inter-county hurling.
Post-playing career
In retirement from hurling Phelan came to be regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time. His skill at the game was recognised in 1984 when he was 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...
. His status as one of the all-time greats was further copperfastened in 1999 when he was 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...
and the Kilkenny Hurling Team of the Century. His grand-nephew, D.J. Carey, played hurling with Kilkenny in the 1990s and 2000s and is regarded as one of the modern greats of the game.