Billy Mackesy

William Mackesy, known as Billy, was born on 8 April 1880 and died on 12 November 1956. He was an Irish dual player of Gaelic games, a hurler and a footballer, who played at club level with Lees and Blackrock in Cork city and was a member of the Cork senior teams in both codes. In the 12 years from 1902 to 1914 he won a combined total of 13 County Championship medals across both codes, including three hurling and football doubles. He first played for the Cork senior footballers in 1901, won an All-Ireland hurling title in 1903, and in 1911 became Cork's first dual All-Ireland medal-winner when the Cork footballers beat Antrim in the final. He retired from inter-county duty in 1912 after 43 championship appearances and six Munster Championship medals across both codes. He is one of only fifteen players to have won All-Ireland medals in both codes. Born in Buttevant, County Cork, he later worked as a draper in Cork city before opening licensed premises.