Billy Galligan

Billy Galligan

Personal information
Sport	Hurling
Position	Right wing-forward
Born	5 January 1937[1] Charleville, County Cork, Irish Free State
Died	1 February 2023(2023-02-01) (aged 86) Westbury, County Clare, Ireland
Nickname	Billy Gal
Occupation	Cobbler
Club(s)
Years	Club	Apps (scores)
1955-1959 1958–1959 1960–1968 1960–1968 1969–1975	Charleville → Avondhu Blackrock Lees Claughaun	2 (0-03) 19 (14-62)
Club titles
Cork titles	1
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County
1958–1962	Cork
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	0
All-Irelands	0
NHL	0

William Galligan (5 January 1937 – 1 February 2023) was an Irish hurler. He lined out with a number of club sides, including Charleville, Lees, Blackrock and Claughaun, and also played at inter-county level with Cork.

Career

Galligan first played hurling at juvenile and underage levels with the Seán Clárachs side that won consecutive North Cork MHC titles in 1952 and 1953.^[2] He progressed to adult level with Charleville, with his performances also earning selection for the Avondhu divisional team. Galligan transferred to the Blackrock club in 1960 and won a Cork SHC title after a defeat of Avondhu in the 1961 final. He transferred to the Claughaun club in Limerick in 1969 and won two consecutive Limerick SFC titles as well as a Limerick SHC title in 1971.^[3]

Galligan first appeared on the inter-county scene as right wing-forward on the Cork junior hurling team that beat Warwickshire in the 1958 All-Ireland final.^[4] He won a Munster JHC medal in 1960.^[5] Galligan also made a number of appearances for the senior team in various tournament games, however, he never made it onto the championship team. Galligan won an All-Ireland IHC medal in 1965.^[6]

Personal life and death

Galligan's father, also called Bill, was also a hurler who played with a number of club teams, including Bruree, Croom, Ballyhea and Charleville. He also played with the London Irish team in the All-Ireland JHC. His son, Mike Galligan, played with Claughan and won National League and Munster SHC medals with Limerick.^[7]

Galligan died on 1 February 2023, at the age of 86.^[8]

Honours

Seán Clárachs

• North Cork Minor Hurling Championship: 1952, 1953

Blackrock

• Cork Senior Hurling Championship: 1961

Claughaun

• Limerick Senior Hurling Championship: 1971
• Limerick Senior Football Championship: 1970, 1971

Cork

• All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship: 1965
• Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship: 1965
• All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship: 1958
• Munster Junior Hurling Championship: 1958, 1960

References

1. "William Galligan in 1937". Find My Past website. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
2. "Hurlers glory years revisited". Irish Independent. 3 July 2003. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
3. "Granagh-Ballingarry club notes". Limerick GAA website. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
4. "Calling old champions". Irish Examiner. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
5. "Junior Hurling". Munster GAA website. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
6. "Intermediate Hurling". Munster GAA website. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
7. "Mike Galligan". Hogan Stand. 7 June 1991. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
8. "Tributes paid to a 'true legend' of Limerick GAA club". Limerick Live. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.