Liam McCarthy (GAA patron)
Encyclopedia
Liam McCarthy is best known for having the Gaelic Athletic Association
(GAA) Liam McCarthy Cup
named after him.
, London
to Irish parents who had emigrated from Ballygarvan, County Cork
. His father Eoghan McCarthy was nicknamed Capall, Irish for 'horse' because of his great strength. Liam grew up in a close knit Irish community; he played hurling
on Clapham Common
and Irish was the first language in the family home. After leaving school he worked as a blacksmith's hammerman and as a railwayman.
. The couple had four sons. Her family owned a fancy box factory and Liam joined the family business but a few years later he struck out on his own setting up a fancy box factory in the family home. After some years he set up a factory in Peckham
which he called St. Brigid's works.
county board, a position he held for 10 years. Michael Collins
and Sam Maguire
were also members of the London county board. Despite his advanced years he joined the London branch of the Irish Volunteers
along with his sons; he also was allegedly a member of the IRB
. In 1915 Britain introduced conscription; a crisis meeting of the London branch of the Irish volunteers was held at his home in east Dulwich to discuss conscription. As a councilor Liam could not publicly advise men to avoid conscription but in response to question from Michael Collins he said, "If you come from Clonakilty it is obvious where you must go" - in other words advising them to return to Ireland where conscription was not in force.
and was gratefully accepted. It is awarded annually and in perpetuity to the winners of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
. his friend, Sam Maguire, presented a similar Cup
for the winners of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The first winners of the Liam McCarthy cup were Limerick
in 1921.
The GAA club grounds in Ballygarvan
are named after him.
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
(GAA) Liam McCarthy Cup
Liam McCarthy Cup
The MacCarthy Perpetual Challenge Cup is a trophy awarded annually by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the hurling team that wins the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.-The trophy:...
named after him.
Early life
Liam was born in SouthwarkSouthwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Irish parents who had emigrated from Ballygarvan, County Cork
Ballygarvan, County Cork
Ballygarvan is a village south of Cork City, in County Cork, Ireland.The village and surrounding area has a population of between 1000 and 1500 residents. Occupying the eastern half of Ballinhassig parish, the village lies in the valley between Myrtle and Meadstown Hills, beside the River Owenabue...
. His father Eoghan McCarthy was nicknamed Capall, Irish for 'horse' because of his great strength. Liam grew up in a close knit Irish community; 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...
on Clapham Common
Clapham Common
Clapham Common is an 89 hectare triangular area of grassland situated in south London, England. It was historically common land for the parishes of Battersea and Clapham, but was converted to parkland under the terms of the Metropolitan Commons Act 1878.43 hectares of the common are within the...
and Irish was the first language in the family home. After leaving school he worked as a blacksmith's hammerman and as a railwayman.
Marriage and Business life
In 1875 at age 22 he married Alice Padbury in St George's Cathedral, SouthwarkSt George's Cathedral, Southwark
St George's Cathedral, Southwark, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the Archdiocese of Southwark, south London.The Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Province of Southwark which covers the Archdiocese of Southwark and the Dioceses of Arundel and Brighton, Portsmouth, and Plymouth...
. The couple had four sons. Her family owned a fancy box factory and Liam joined the family business but a few years later he struck out on his own setting up a fancy box factory in the family home. After some years he set up a factory in Peckham
Peckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
which he called St. Brigid's works.
Political and GAA life
Liam became a leader in London's Irish community and was elected a councilor for Peckham's north ward. He was also elected chairman of London GAALondon GAA
The London County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or London GAA is one of the county boards outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in London...
county board, a position he held for 10 years. Michael Collins
Michael Collins (Irish leader)
Michael "Mick" Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the...
and Sam Maguire
Sam Maguire
Samuel Maguire , an Irish republican and Gaelic footballer, is chiefly remembered as the eponym of the Sam Maguire Cup, given to the All-Ireland Senior Champions of Gaelic football.-Early life:...
were also members of the London county board. Despite his advanced years he joined the London branch of the Irish Volunteers
Irish Volunteers
The Irish Volunteers was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists. It was ostensibly formed in response to the formation of the Ulster Volunteers in 1912, and its declared primary aim was "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland"...
along with his sons; he also was allegedly a member of the IRB
Irish Republican Brotherhood
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland during the second half of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century...
. In 1915 Britain introduced conscription; a crisis meeting of the London branch of the Irish volunteers was held at his home in east Dulwich to discuss conscription. As a councilor Liam could not publicly advise men to avoid conscription but in response to question from Michael Collins he said, "If you come from Clonakilty it is obvious where you must go" - in other words advising them to return to Ireland where conscription was not in force.
Liam McCarthy Cup
In conjunction with two of his sons Liam commissioned the manufacture of a trophy based on an ancient Irish drinking cup. This cup was offered to the GAA central council in Croke ParkCroke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
and was gratefully accepted. It is awarded annually and in perpetuity to the winners of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
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....
. his friend, Sam Maguire, presented a similar Cup
Sam Maguire Cup
The Sam Maguire Cup, often called The Sam , is the name of the cup that is awarded to winners of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
for the winners of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
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...
The first winners of the Liam McCarthy cup were 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 1921.
The GAA club grounds in Ballygarvan
Ballygarvan GAA
Ballygarvan GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Ballygarvan in south County Cork, Ireland. The club participates in Cork GAA competitions and in Carrigdhoun divisional competitions.-History:...
are named after him.