Úna O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Úna O'Connor is a former Irish
sportsperson who played senior camogie
with Dublin
from 1953 until 1975. She is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time, a member of the team of the century. the first camogie player to win a Caltex award in 1966, and the Gaelic Weekly all-star award winner in 1967.
, Dublin in 1938. The youngest of eight children her mother died when she was just eighteen years-old. O'Connor grew up in Dublin at a time when the county’s Gaelic football
ers were successful. She was a great admirer of Kevin Heffernan
and often received coaching advice from him before she played in big games.
with the Celtic club in Dublin. She enjoyed much success with Celtic, winning ten Dublin county camogie championship titles in all. She was also one of the key players when the club won the first All-Ireland club camogie championship in 1964.
. Although she was only fifteen years-old she showed her exceptional talent by scoring three goals in the defeat of Tipperary
. After this the honours came thick and fast for O’Connor as she collected two further All-Ireland medals in 1954 and 1955.
In 1957 Dublin reached the All-Ireland final once again, however, O’Connor was out of favour with the management and was not in the starting line-up for the game. With Dublin struggling with ten minutes left in the game, O’Connor was brought on and showed her talent once again by scoring the winning goal. Although she was only nineteen years-old she had just won her fourth All-Ireland medal. This victory began an amazing run of success that by 1966 saw O’Connor win ten All-Ireland medals in-a-row. This achievement is unique to O’Connor and one that is unlikely to be ever equalled. In 1963 and 1964 she had the honour of captaining her native county to back-to-back victories.
In 1967 O’Connor appeared in another All-Ireland final, however, Antrim
gained revenge on Dublin by beating them in the All-Ireland final replay. In spite of this she received the Caltex Award for best player of the year, thus becoming the first camogie player to be so honoured. In 1975 O’Connor came out of retirement to play in the Leinster
championship against Wexford
. Once again she showed her versatility by playing as a full-back, while she previously played as a forward.
Her haul of thirteen All-Ireland
medals is a record that stands second to her fellow county colleague Kathleen Mills
who heads the honours list with fifteen medals. In 2004 O’Connor was named in the wing-forward position on a special team picked to celebrate the centenary of Cumann Camogaíochta na nGael.
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 1953 until 1975. She is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time, a member of the team of the century. the first camogie player to win a Caltex award in 1966, and the Gaelic Weekly all-star award winner in 1967.
Early life
Úna O'Connor was born in FairviewFairview
-Canada:* Fairview, Alberta * Fairview, British Columbia an old mining community* Fairview, Calgary, a neighbourhood in Calgary, Alberta* Fairview Mall, a shopping center in Toronto, Ontario* Fairview, Nova Scotia...
, Dublin in 1938. The youngest of eight children her mother died when she was just eighteen years-old. O'Connor grew up in Dublin at a time when the county’s Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
ers were successful. She was a great admirer of Kevin Heffernan
Kevin Heffernan (Gaelic footballer)
-See also :* List of people on stamps of Ireland*Dublin GAA*Dublin GAA Honours*Dublin Senior Club Football Championship...
and often received coaching advice from him before she played in big games.
Club
O'Connor played her club 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....
with the Celtic club in Dublin. She enjoyed much success with Celtic, winning ten Dublin county camogie championship titles in all. She was also one of the key players when the club won the first All-Ireland club camogie championship in 1964.
Inter-county
In 1953 O'Connor won her first All-Ireland medal with DublinDublin 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...
. Although she was only fifteen years-old she showed her exceptional talent by scoring three goals in the defeat of 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...
. After this the honours came thick and fast for O’Connor as she collected two further All-Ireland medals in 1954 and 1955.
In 1957 Dublin reached the All-Ireland final once again, however, O’Connor was out of favour with the management and was not in the starting line-up for the game. With Dublin struggling with ten minutes left in the game, O’Connor was brought on and showed her talent once again by scoring the winning goal. Although she was only nineteen years-old she had just won her fourth All-Ireland medal. This victory began an amazing run of success that by 1966 saw O’Connor win ten All-Ireland medals in-a-row. This achievement is unique to O’Connor and one that is unlikely to be ever equalled. In 1963 and 1964 she had the honour of captaining her native county to back-to-back victories.
In 1967 O’Connor appeared in another All-Ireland final, however, 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...
gained revenge on Dublin by beating them in the All-Ireland final replay. In spite of this she received the Caltex Award for best player of the year, thus becoming the first camogie player to be so honoured. In 1975 O’Connor came out of retirement to play in the Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
championship against 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...
. Once again she showed her versatility by playing as a full-back, while she previously played as a forward.
Retirement
In retirement O’Connor’s reputation as one of the greatest players of all-time has grown.Her haul of thirteen 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....
medals is a record that stands second to her fellow county colleague Kathleen Mills
Kathleen Mills
"Kay" Mills-Hill was an Irish sportsperson who played senior camogie with Dublin from 1941 until 1961. She is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time, winning a record 15 All Ireland Senior Medals "that no other player in Camogie, hurling or football has equalled."-Early & private...
who heads the honours list with fifteen medals. In 2004 O’Connor was named in the wing-forward position on a special team picked to celebrate the centenary of Cumann Camogaíochta na nGael.