Phil Grimes
Encyclopedia
Phil Grimes was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Mount Sion and was a member of the Waterford
senior inter-county team from the 1940s until the 1960s.
in 1929. He was educated locally at the Mount Sion Primary School
, for whom he later played. In a career that lasted eighteen years he also played for Waterford
and Munster
. Grimes is regarded as one of Waterford’s greatest-ever players.
with his local Mount Sion, one of the most famous hurling clubs in the country. He won his first senior county titles in the 1950s when Mount Sion won an unprecedented nine county titles in-a-row. The club was defeated in its bid to win a tenth consecutive county title, however, Grimes won a further three county titles in-a-row in 1963, 1964 and 1965. He also helped Mount Sion to four county senior football titles.
senior inter-county team in the late 1940s. He played in the first round of the Munster Championship
in 1948, however, he emigrated to the United States
shortly afterwards. In spite of this he still qualified to be presented with a set of Munster and All-Ireland
medals. Because of this Grimes is the only Waterford player to hold two senior All-Ireland winners' medals.
When Grimes returned to Ireland he rejoined the county team and won his first Munster title on the field of play in 1957. Waterford later played Kilkenny
in the All-Ireland final, however, victory went to the men from Leinster on that occasion. The team would later come to rue this defeat as an All-Ireland title that they should have won.
Waterford lost their provincial crown in 1958, however, the team bounced back in 1959 with Grimes collecting a second Munster title. Once again Waterford subsequently lined out in the championship decider and, once again, Kilkenny provided the opposition. The game ended in a draw, however, when the two sides met for the replay a few weeks later the men from Waterford made no mistake in defeating their near rivals and Grimes collected his first All-Ireland
medal that was won on the field of play.
Four years later in 1963 Grimes added a National Hurling League
medal to his collection before winning a third Munster title. For the third successive time Kilkenny
turned out to be Waterford’s opponents in the subsequent All-Ireland final, however, the men from the Decies were beaten on that occasion.
in 1958 and 1960.
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 Mount Sion and was a member of the Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
senior inter-county team from the 1940s until the 1960s.
Early life
Phil Grimes was born in WaterfordWaterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
in 1929. He was educated locally at the Mount Sion Primary School
Mount Sion Primary School
Mount Sion Primary School is a school in Waterford City, Ireland, founded by Edmund Ignatius Rice in 1802. The school site is an international visitor centre as it is the site where the Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers began their mission over 200 years ago.The school is closely...
, for whom he later played. In a career that lasted eighteen years he also played for Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
and 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:...
. Grimes is regarded as one of Waterford’s greatest-ever players.
Club
Grimes 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 his local Mount Sion, one of the most famous hurling clubs in the country. He won his first senior county titles in the 1950s when Mount Sion won an unprecedented nine county titles in-a-row. The club was defeated in its bid to win a tenth consecutive county title, however, Grimes won a further three county titles in-a-row in 1963, 1964 and 1965. He also helped Mount Sion to four county senior football titles.
Inter-county
Grime first came to prominence as a member of the WaterfordWaterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
senior inter-county team in the late 1940s. He played in the first round of the Munster Championship
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster 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 Munster in Ireland....
in 1948, however, he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
shortly afterwards. In spite of this he still qualified to be presented with a set of Munster and 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. Because of this Grimes is the only Waterford player to hold two senior All-Ireland winners' medals.
When Grimes returned to Ireland he rejoined the county team and won his first Munster title on the field of play in 1957. Waterford later played 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...
in the All-Ireland final, however, victory went to the men from Leinster on that occasion. The team would later come to rue this defeat as an All-Ireland title that they should have won.
Waterford lost their provincial crown in 1958, however, the team bounced back in 1959 with Grimes collecting a second Munster title. Once again Waterford subsequently lined out in the championship decider and, once again, Kilkenny provided the opposition. The game ended in a draw, however, when the two sides met for the replay a few weeks later the men from Waterford made no mistake in defeating their near rivals and Grimes 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 that was won on the field of play.
Four years later in 1963 Grimes added 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 to his collection before winning a third Munster title. For the third successive time 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...
turned out to be Waterford’s opponents in the subsequent All-Ireland final, however, the men from the Decies were beaten on that occasion.
Provincial
Grimes also won Railway Cup honours with MunsterMunster 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:...
in 1958 and 1960.