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William Mackesy (8 April 1880 – 12 November 1956) was an Irish dual player of Gaelic games, a hurler and a footballer. At club level he played with Lees and Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior teams in both codes. Mackessy is one of only fifteen players to have won All-Ireland medals in both codes.

Career

Mackesy first came to prominence playing with Cork city-based clubs Blackrock and Lees. In a 12-year span from 1902 to 1914 he won a combined total of 13 County Championship medals across both codes including three hurling-football doubles. Mackesy first appeared on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork senior football team in 1901. His debut season with the Cork senior hurling team two years later ended with him claiming a winners' medal after a defeat of London in the All-Ireland final. Mackesy became Cork's first dual All-Ireland medal-winner in 1911 when he lined out with the Cork senior footballers in their All-Ireland final defeat of Antrim. After making 43 championship appearances he retired from inter-county duty in 1912, by which time Mackesy had also claimed six Munster Championship medals across both codes.

Personal life

Mackesy was born in Buttevant, County Cork but began his business career after moving to Kinsale. He later worked as a draper in the Munster Arcade in Cork city before opening his first licensed premises in 1912. He opened a second on Oliver Plunkett Street six years later. Mackesy married Anne Glavin, who died during childbirth. The baby’s name was Aidan. He then married Eileen Sullivan and had 6 children.

Mackesy died at the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork on 12 November 1956. He had been in a ill health for a number of years with diabetes.

Honours

Blackrock

• Cork Senior Hurling Championship: 1903, 1908, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913

Lees

• Cork Senior Football Championship: 1902, 1903, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1911, 1914

Cork

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: 1903
• All-Ireland Senior Football Championship: 1911
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship: 1903, 1905, 1912
• Munster Senior Football Championship: 1901, 1906, 1907 (c)

References

1. Breheny, Martin (28 August 2001). "Teddy sounds warning to dual chasing Kerins". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
2. "Senior hurling". Munster GAA website. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
3. "Senior Football". Munster GAA website. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
4. "Obituary of Billy Mackesy". Finbarr J. Connolly website. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.

• 1880 births
• 1956 deaths
• Blackrock National Hurling Club hurlers
• Lees Gaelic footballers
• Cork inter-county Gaelic footballers
• Cork inter-county hurlers
• Drinking establishment owners
• Dual players
• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winners
• Winners of one All-Ireland medal (Gaelic football)
• Gaelic games players from County Cork
• People from Buttevant