Tommy Quaid
Encyclopedia
Tommy Quaid was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
at various times with his local clubs Feohanagh-Castlemahon
and Effin and was the goalkeeper on the Limerick
senior inter-county team from 1976 until 1993. Quaid was regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation.
in 1957. The son of Bridie (née Collins) and Jack Quaid, he was born into a family that had a strong association with hurling. His father was one of the key players on the Limerick
team which beat London
in the 1954 All-Ireland
junior final. He won a senior Munster
title the following year when a Mick Mackey
-trained team shocked Clare
in the provincial decider. Quaid's five children all followed in their father's footsteps on the hurling field. Séamus Quaid was a stalwart of the Feohanagh club until he emigrated to Australia. John Quaid went on to represent his county at minor and under 21 levels while Pat Quaid also served as a member of the Limerick under-21 hurling panel. Noreen Quaid also represented her County and local club in Feoghangh.
The Quaid family moved to Feohanagh
, County Limerick
when Tommy was just a few years old. He was educated at the local national school before later attending secondary school in nearby Newcastle West
.
Quaid trained as a fitter with the local Golden Vale company and later set up his own engineering business. In retirement from inter-county hurling he built up his business. In 1998, however, tragedy struck. While working on the Credit Union
building in Charleville, the place of his birth, Quaid fell twenty feet from some scaffolding and landed on his back, hitting his head in the process. He was immediately rushed to hospital, however, he died from his injuries several days later on 10 October 1998.
Quaid's sons Tomás and Nicky have represented Limerick at underage levels and were members of the Effin team that lost the 2007 Limerick Junior 'A' hurling final to a Caherline
team. Nicky Quaid
now plays in goals for the under-21 limerick team.
club. In spite of being a goalkeeper at inter-county level he played as a forward during most of his club career and, more often than not, he also served as the team's free-taker. Quaid's club career got off to a less than auspiscious start. After losing back-to-back minor finals he subsequently joined the club's under-21 team. Success, however, also eluded him in this grade as he suffered the heartbreak of losing four consecutive Under-21 West Division finals. Quaid's most successful hour came in 1990 when he captained Feohanagh-Castlemahon to a West Limerick senior hurling title. Unfortunately he never won a county senior title. In later years he played his club hurling with Effin, where he won three South Limerick junior hurling titles.
minor team in 1973, however, he joined the side the following year as goalkeeper. He spent an unsuccessful two-year spell with the Limerick minors. Quaid later joined the county under-21 hurling team, however, in spite of a disastrous Munster
final appearance in 1977, he enjoyed little success.
In 1975 Quaid joined the Limerick senior hurling team, making his debut in a National Hurling League
quarter-final against Kilkenny
. The young goalkeeper, however, took stage fright and had a nightmare of a game. By 1976 Quaid had redeemed himself and took over from Séamus Horgan
as first-choice goalkeeper for the championship.
Quaid's side contested the Munster final 1976, however, Cork were victorious on that occasion as Limerick went into decline. They were completely trounced again in 1979 on a score line of 2-14 to 0-9 as Cork captured a record-equaling fifth Munster title in-a-row.
In 1980 Cork were going for an unprecedented sixth Munster Championship in succession. For the fourth time in six years Limerick provided the opposition in the provincial decider. After an exciting seventy minutes Cork’s hopes were dashed by 2-14 to 2-10 as Quiad collected a first Munster winners' medal. This victory allowed Limerick a save passage to the All-Ireland final where Galway
were the opponents. Galway got off to a good start and took a 2-7 to 1-5 lead at half-time. Éamonn Cregan
had other ideas and single-handedly launched the Limerick counter-attack. Over the course of the game he scored 2-7, including an overhead goal and a point in which he showed the ball to Conor Hayes
and nonchalantly drove the ball over the bar. It was not enough to stem the tide and Galway went on to win the game. It was the county’s first All-Ireland title since 1923 and, ironically, Limerick were the defeated team on that occasion as well.
Limerick retained their provincial crown in 1981. Clare were defeated on that occasion by 3-12 to 2-9 giving Quiad his second Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Limerick take on Offaly
. It was the first meeting of these two sides in the history of the hurling championship. In a low-scoring game both sides finished level and a replay was necessary. The second game took place a fortnight later at Croke Park
and it turned out to be an exciting affair. Both sides upped their game, however, Limerick were still defeated by 4-16 to 2-17.
Following back-to-back Munster triumphs Limerick went into decline in the championship. Quaid's side did have some notable victories in the National League. In 1984 he won his first National League medal following a 3-16 to 1-9 victory over Wexford
. The win was all the more special as it was the centenary year of the Gaelic Athletic Association
. A second National League title was collected by Quaid in 1985 following a trouncing of Clare
.
After some time out of the limelight Quaid won a third National League medal in 1992 following a one-point victory over Tipperary. Limerick later qualified for the Munster final, however, Cork were the victors on that occasion. In spite of ending up on the loisng side Quaid's championship performance earned him his first, and only, All-Star
award.
Following the completion of the 1993 Munster championship Quaid decided to retire after 18 consecutive championship seasons as goalkeeper. He was replaced on the Limerick team by his cousin, Joe Quaid
.
inter-provincial hurling team between 1979 and 1992. In 1981 he collected his first Railway Cup medal following a ten-point defeat of arch-rivals Leinster
. A second defeat of Leinster in 1984 gave him a second Railway Cup title while Connacht
were accounted for in 1985. Quaid won a fourth and final Railway Cup winners' medal in 1992.
. In 1983 Quaid and Joe Shortt from Armagh
won the pairs competition with 154 pucks. Three years later in 1986 he collected another pairs title, this time with John Kelly of Offaly
as his partner. Quaid and Des Donnelly of Antrim
won the title in 1990, while together with Michael Sahughnessy of Galway
he retained the pairs competition title in 1991. That same year Quaid also won the All-Ireland title in the singles competition.
title in that grade following a 2-11 to 0-15 defeat of Tipperary. Quaid's side later qualified for the All-Ireland final, with Kilkenny providing the opposition. Unfortunately, that game took place on thae same week that Quaid suffered his fatal accident at work. He died on the same day that game was taking place, however, his emotion-filled Limerick team went on to win the game by 4-16 to 2-17. A poem was written by Garry McMahon in the wake of his death called Lament for Tommy Quaid.
, County Limerick
. Membership of the society is confined to men who have worn the hurling Number 1 jersey at senior inter-county level for one of the six Munster counties. The Tommy Quaid Perpetual Cup is awarded to the winner of this annual competition and the outing will alternate between the six Munster counties over the coming years. Present and former hurling goalkeepers from the entire province have jumped at the opportunity of participating in this novel outing. The event was launched by former Clare goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald
. Also in attendance was Brian Murray
(Limerick goalkeeper) and Donal Óg Cusack
(Cork goalkeeper).
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...
at various times with his local clubs Feohanagh-Castlemahon
Feohanagh-Castlemahon GAA
Feohanagh-Castlemahon is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Mahoonagh, County Limerick, Ireland. It was founded in 1890. Coolyroe is the main centre for the GAA field, known as Quaid Park....
and Effin and was the goalkeeper on the 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...
senior inter-county team from 1976 until 1993. Quaid was regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation.
Biography
Tommy Quaid was born in Charleville, County CorkCharleville, County Cork
Charleville or Ráth Luirc is a town in north County Cork, Ireland, situated in Ireland's Golden Vale, near the border with County Limerick. It is located on the "Glen" tributary river, which flows into the Maigue River in Co. Limerick...
in 1957. The son of Bridie (née Collins) and Jack Quaid, he was born into a family that had a strong association with hurling. His father was one of the key players on the 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...
team which beat London
London 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...
in the 1954 All-Ireland
All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship was a hurling competition organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland. The competition was originally contested by the second teams of the strong counties, and the first teams of the weaker counties...
junior final. He won a senior Munster
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....
title the following year when a Mick Mackey
Mick Mackey
Michael ‘Mick’ Mackey was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the famous Ahane club from 1930 until 1948 and was a member of the Limerick senior inter-county team from 1930 until 1947. Mackey is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game...
-trained team shocked Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
in the provincial decider. Quaid's five children all followed in their father's footsteps on the hurling field. Séamus Quaid was a stalwart of the Feohanagh club until he emigrated to Australia. John Quaid went on to represent his county at minor and under 21 levels while Pat Quaid also served as a member of the Limerick under-21 hurling panel. Noreen Quaid also represented her County and local club in Feoghangh.
The Quaid family moved to Feohanagh
Feohanagh
Feohanagh is a village in the Parish of Mahoonagh, South West County Limerick in Ireland. The village is 5 miles south east of the town of Newcastle West, County Limerick on the R522 regional road to Dromcollogher. It is the only village on the road between Newcastle West and Dromcollogher.-See...
, County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
when Tommy was just a few years old. He was educated at the local national school before later attending secondary school in nearby Newcastle West
Newcastle West
Newcastle West is a town in west County Limerick, Ireland. The town is the largest town in the county, excluding Limerick city, and is sited on the River Arra which flows into the River Deel...
.
Quaid trained as a fitter with the local Golden Vale company and later set up his own engineering business. In retirement from inter-county hurling he built up his business. In 1998, however, tragedy struck. While working on the Credit Union
Credit union
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift, providing credit at competitive rates, and providing other financial services to its members...
building in Charleville, the place of his birth, Quaid fell twenty feet from some scaffolding and landed on his back, hitting his head in the process. He was immediately rushed to hospital, however, he died from his injuries several days later on 10 October 1998.
Quaid's sons Tomás and Nicky have represented Limerick at underage levels and were members of the Effin team that lost the 2007 Limerick Junior 'A' hurling final to a Caherline
Caherline GAA
Caherline GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling club based in County Limerick, Ireland. It is based in the parish of Caherline/Caherconlish in the east division of Limerick GAA.-History:...
team. Nicky Quaid
Nicky Quaid
Nicky Quaid is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Effin and has been a member of the Limerick senior inter-county team since 2010.-Biography:...
now plays in goals for the under-21 limerick team.
Club
Quaid played his club hurling with his local Feohanagh-CastlemahonFeohanagh-Castlemahon GAA
Feohanagh-Castlemahon is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Mahoonagh, County Limerick, Ireland. It was founded in 1890. Coolyroe is the main centre for the GAA field, known as Quaid Park....
club. In spite of being a goalkeeper at inter-county level he played as a forward during most of his club career and, more often than not, he also served as the team's free-taker. Quaid's club career got off to a less than auspiscious start. After losing back-to-back minor finals he subsequently joined the club's under-21 team. Success, however, also eluded him in this grade as he suffered the heartbreak of losing four consecutive Under-21 West Division finals. Quaid's most successful hour came in 1990 when he captained Feohanagh-Castlemahon to a West Limerick senior hurling title. Unfortunately he never won a county senior title. In later years he played his club hurling with Effin, where he won three South Limerick junior hurling titles.
Inter-county
Quaid's performances at club level brought him to the attentions of the inter-county selectors. He was passed over for inter-county duty on the LimerickLimerick 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...
minor team in 1973, however, he joined the side the following year as goalkeeper. He spent an unsuccessful two-year spell with the Limerick minors. Quaid later joined the county under-21 hurling team, however, in spite of a disastrous Munster
Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Under-21 Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for players aged between 18 and 21 in the province of Munster in Ireland...
final appearance in 1977, he enjoyed little success.
In 1975 Quaid joined the Limerick senior hurling team, making his debut in 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...
quarter-final against 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...
. The young goalkeeper, however, took stage fright and had a nightmare of a game. By 1976 Quaid had redeemed himself and took over from Séamus Horgan
Séamus Horgan
Séamus Horgan is a former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Tournafulla and with the Limerick senior inter-county team in the 1970s.-Club:...
as first-choice goalkeeper for the championship.
Quaid's side contested the Munster final 1976, however, Cork were victorious on that occasion as Limerick went into decline. They were completely trounced again in 1979 on a score line of 2-14 to 0-9 as Cork captured a record-equaling fifth Munster title in-a-row.
In 1980 Cork were going for an unprecedented sixth Munster Championship in succession. For the fourth time in six years Limerick provided the opposition in the provincial decider. After an exciting seventy minutes Cork’s hopes were dashed by 2-14 to 2-10 as Quiad collected a first Munster winners' medal. This victory allowed Limerick a save passage to the All-Ireland final where 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,...
were the opponents. Galway got off to a good start and took a 2-7 to 1-5 lead at half-time. Éamonn Cregan
Éamonn Cregan
Éamonn Cregan is an Irish former Gaelic footballer, hurler and manager. He is best remembered for his success with Limerick, as a player in the 1970s and then as manager of various club and inter-county teams in the 1980s and 1990s.-Club:...
had other ideas and single-handedly launched the Limerick counter-attack. Over the course of the game he scored 2-7, including an overhead goal and a point in which he showed the ball to Conor Hayes
Conor Hayes
Conor Hayes is an Irish retired sportsperson and manager. He played hurling with his local club Kiltormer and was a member of the Galway senior inter-county team from 1979 until 1989. Hayes captained Galway to back-to-back All-Ireland titles.-Club:Hayes played his club hurling with his local club...
and nonchalantly drove the ball over the bar. It was not enough to stem the tide and Galway went on to win the game. It was the county’s first All-Ireland title since 1923 and, ironically, Limerick were the defeated team on that occasion as well.
Limerick retained their provincial crown in 1981. Clare were defeated on that occasion by 3-12 to 2-9 giving Quiad his second Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Limerick take on Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
. It was the first meeting of these two sides in the history of the hurling championship. In a low-scoring game both sides finished level and a replay was necessary. The second game took place a fortnight later at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
and it turned out to be an exciting affair. Both sides upped their game, however, Limerick were still defeated by 4-16 to 2-17.
Following back-to-back Munster triumphs Limerick went into decline in the championship. Quaid's side did have some notable victories in the National League. In 1984 he won his first National League medal following a 3-16 to 1-9 victory over 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...
. The win was all the more special as it was the centenary year of the Gaelic Athletic Association
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...
. A second National League title was collected by Quaid in 1985 following a trouncing of Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
.
After some time out of the limelight Quaid won a third National League medal in 1992 following a one-point victory over Tipperary. Limerick later qualified for the Munster final, however, Cork were the victors on that occasion. In spite of ending up on the loisng side Quaid's championship performance earned him his first, and only, All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
award.
Following the completion of the 1993 Munster championship Quaid decided to retire after 18 consecutive championship seasons as goalkeeper. He was replaced on the Limerick team by his cousin, Joe Quaid
Joe Quaid
Joe Quaid is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Murroe-Boher and was goalkeeper on the Limerick senior inter-county team from 1994 until 2002.-Early life:...
.
Interprovincial
Quaid was also a regular on the 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:...
inter-provincial hurling team between 1979 and 1992. In 1981 he collected his first Railway Cup medal following a ten-point defeat of arch-rivals Leinster
Leinster 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...
. A second defeat of Leinster in 1984 gave him a second Railway Cup title while Connacht
Connacht GAA
The Connacht Council are a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Connacht.-Constituent counties:*Galway*Leitrim*Mayo*Roscommon*Sligo-Special counties:...
were accounted for in 1985. Quaid won a fourth and final Railway Cup winners' medal in 1992.
Poc Fada
Quaid also won numerous awards as an individual and in pairs competitions in the All-Ireland Poc Fada ChampionshipAll-Ireland Poc Fada Championship
The All-Ireland Poc Fada Hurling & Camogie Championships is an annual tournament testing the skills of Ireland's best hurlers and camogie players. Poc Fada is Irish for "long puck". The championships are sponspored by M Donnelly & Co. since 1996....
. In 1983 Quaid and Joe Shortt from Armagh
Armagh GAA
The Armagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Armagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Armagh...
won the pairs competition with 154 pucks. Three years later in 1986 he collected another pairs title, this time with John Kelly of Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
as his partner. Quaid and Des Donnelly of 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...
won the title in 1990, while together with Michael Sahughnessy of 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,...
he retained the pairs competition title in 1991. That same year Quaid also won the All-Ireland title in the singles competition.
Managerial career
In retirement from playing at inter-county level, Quaid became involved in the management side of hurling. In 1998 he guided the Limerick intermediate hurlers to a MunsterMunster Intermediate Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Intermediate Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1961 for the strong hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland...
title in that grade following a 2-11 to 0-15 defeat of Tipperary. Quaid's side later qualified for the All-Ireland final, with Kilkenny providing the opposition. Unfortunately, that game took place on thae same week that Quaid suffered his fatal accident at work. He died on the same day that game was taking place, however, his emotion-filled Limerick team went on to win the game by 4-16 to 2-17. A poem was written by Garry McMahon in the wake of his death called Lament for Tommy Quaid.
Tommy Quaid Perpetual Cup
On 1 May 2008, the Iverahain Golf Society launched the inaugural Tommy Quaid Perpetual Cup in 'The Hurlers', CastletroyCastletroy
Castletroy is a rapidly growing and predominantly middle-class suburb of Limerick, Ireland and is the largest suburb in Munster. Its population is estimated at 40,000 as of 2010....
, County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
. Membership of the society is confined to men who have worn the hurling Number 1 jersey at senior inter-county level for one of the six Munster counties. The Tommy Quaid Perpetual Cup is awarded to the winner of this annual competition and the outing will alternate between the six Munster counties over the coming years. Present and former hurling goalkeepers from the entire province have jumped at the opportunity of participating in this novel outing. The event was launched by former Clare goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald
Davy FitzGerald
David Fitzgerald is an Irish hurling manager and former player. He is a former manager of the Waterford senior hurling team....
. Also in attendance was Brian Murray
Brian Murray (hurler)
Brian Murray is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Patrickswell and was a member of the Limerick senior inter-county team from 2006 until 2009.-Club:...
(Limerick goalkeeper) and Donal Óg Cusack
Dónal Óg Cusack
Donal Óg Cusack is a well-known Irish hurler and Ireland's first openly gay elite sportsman. He plays hurling at club level with Cloyne and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 1999....
(Cork goalkeeper).