Billy Rackard
Encyclopedia
Billy 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.
, County Wexford
in 1930. The youngest son in a family of five boys and four girls, 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. In spite of this, it was with the small ball that Rackard enjoyed major success, together with his brothers Nicky
and Bobby
.
with the famous Rathnure
club and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county championship winners' medal with the club in 1948 following a trouncing of St. Aidan's of Enniscorthy
. Rathnure lost their county title the following year, however, in 1950 Rackard added a second county winners' medal to his collection following another easy win over St. Aidan's. After a number of years out of the limelight Rathnure were back in the county final again in 1955. St. Aidan's providied the opposition, however, once again Rathnure were successful, giving Rackard a third county championship title. A fourth county final victory over St. Aidan's in 1961 gave Rackard a fourth county championship title. As his career was coming to an end, Rackard added a fifth county winners' medal to his collection in 1967.
minor hurling team. After little success at this grade he was introduced to the county senior team in National Hurling League
games in 1949. The following year he made his Leinster Championship debut, however, Kilkenny
were the victors in the provincial final. 1951 saw Rackard win his first Leinster
title. Wexford later reached the All-Ireland final, however, the men from the Model County were defeated by Tipperary
. It would be another three years before Rackard collected his second Leinster medal. Once again his team reached the All-Ireland final, however, he ended up on the losing side once again as victory went to Cork. The following year Wexford continued their provincial dominance with Rackard adding a third Leinster medal to his collection. Wexford went on to defeat Galway
in the subsequent championship decider giving Wexford their first championship title since 1910. Rackard, in turn, collected his first All-Ireland
medal.
At the start of 1956 Rackard added a National League medal to his collection. He subsequently won his fourth Leinster title and Wexford qualified to play in their third consecutive All-Ireland final. Just like 1956 Cork turned out to be the opposition and the game has gone down in hurling history as one of the all-time greats. Wexford won the day and Rackard collected his second consecutive All-Ireland medal, however, the game is mostly remembered for Art Foley
’s great save from a Christy Ring
shot. The save denied Cork a goal and Ring was denied an almost certain ninth All-Ireland medal. Two years later in 1958 Rackard won a second National League medal, however, it was 1960 before he won a fifth Leinster title. Tipperary
were Wexford’s opponents in the subsequent championship decider, however, Rackard’s side had a ten-point victory over the Munster men. With it he collected his third All-Ireland medal. Two years later in 1962 Rackard was appointed captain of the Wexford senior hurlers. He subsequently guided his team to a Leinster title, Rackard’s sixth winners’ medal in all. Once again Tipperary were Wexford’s opponents in the All-Ireland final, however, Tipp won the game with two points to spare. Rackard retired from inter-county hurling in 1964.
team that participated in the annual Railway Cup inter-provincial series. Munster
dominated the competition for much of this time; however, he captured a total of four Railway Cup titles in 1954, 1956, 1962 and 1964.
and Bobby
, came to be regarded as one of the greatest hurling families of all-time. In 1992 both Billy and Bobby Rackard were presented with an All-Time All-Star Award
. He died on the 23 March 2009 in his native Wexford aged 79.
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 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 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:...
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 1950 until 1964.
Early life
Billy 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 1930. The youngest son in a family of five boys and four girls, 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. In spite of this, it was with the small ball that Rackard enjoyed major success, together with his brothers Nicky
Nicky Rackard
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...
and Bobby
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:...
.
Club
Rackard 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 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 enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county championship winners' medal with the club in 1948 following a trouncing of St. Aidan's of Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy is the second largest town in County Wexford, Ireland. The population of the town and environs is 9538. The Placenames Database of Ireland sheds no light on the origins of the town's name. It may refer either to the "Island of Corthaidh" or the "Island of Rocks". With a history going...
. Rathnure lost their county title the following year, however, in 1950 Rackard added a second county winners' medal to his collection following another easy win over St. Aidan's. After a number of years out of the limelight Rathnure were back in the county final again in 1955. St. Aidan's providied the opposition, however, once again Rathnure were successful, giving Rackard a third county championship title. A fourth county final victory over St. Aidan's in 1961 gave Rackard a fourth county championship title. As his career was coming to an end, Rackard added a fifth county winners' medal to his collection in 1967.
Inter-county
Rackard first came to prominence in the late 1940s as a member of the WexfordWexford 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...
minor hurling team. After little success at this grade he was introduced to the county senior team in 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...
games in 1949. The following year he made his Leinster Championship debut, however, 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...
were the victors in the provincial final. 1951 saw Rackard win 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. Wexford later reached the All-Ireland final, however, the men from the Model County were defeated by 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...
. It would be another three years before Rackard collected his second Leinster medal. Once again his team reached the All-Ireland final, however, he ended up on the losing side once again as victory went to Cork. The following year Wexford continued their provincial dominance with Rackard adding a third Leinster medal to his collection. Wexford went on to defeat 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 subsequent championship decider giving Wexford their first championship title since 1910. Rackard, in turn, collected 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.
At the start of 1956 Rackard added a National League medal to his collection. He subsequently won his fourth Leinster title and Wexford qualified to play in their third consecutive All-Ireland final. Just like 1956 Cork turned out to be the opposition and the game has gone down in hurling history as one of the all-time greats. Wexford won the day and Rackard collected his second consecutive All-Ireland medal, however, the game is mostly remembered for 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:...
’s great save from a 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...
shot. The save denied Cork a goal and Ring was denied an almost certain ninth All-Ireland medal. Two years later in 1958 Rackard won a second National League medal, however, it was 1960 before he won a fifth Leinster title. 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...
were Wexford’s opponents in the subsequent championship decider, however, Rackard’s side had a ten-point victory over the Munster men. With it he collected his third All-Ireland medal. Two years later in 1962 Rackard was appointed captain of the Wexford senior hurlers. He subsequently guided his team to a Leinster title, Rackard’s sixth winners’ medal in all. Once again Tipperary were Wexford’s opponents in the All-Ireland final, however, Tipp won the game with two points to spare. Rackard retired from inter-county hurling in 1964.
Inter-provincial
By the mid-1950s 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 for much of this time; however, he captured a total of four Railway Cup titles in 1954, 1956, 1962 and 1964.
Post-playing career
In retirement Rackard, along with his brothers NickyNicky Rackard
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...
and Bobby
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:...
, came to be regarded as one of the greatest hurling families of all-time. In 1992 both Billy and Bobby Rackard were presented with an All-Time All-Star Award
GAA All-Time All-Star Award (Hurling)
The GAA All-Time All-Star Award in Hurling was an award given on an annual basis to a sportsperson who had made a long-running and considerable contribution to the sport of hurling in Ireland...
. He died on the 23 March 2009 in his native Wexford aged 79.