Dermot Kelly (hurler)

Dermot Noel Kelly (25 December 1932 – 22 February 2023) was an Irish hurler. He lined out at club level with Claughaun and also played at inter-county level with Limerick.

Dermot Kelly

Personal information
Irish name	Diarmuid Ó Ceallaig
Sport	Hurling
Position	Centre-forward
Born	25 December 1932[1] Limerick, Irish Free State
Died	22 February 2023(2023-02-22) (aged 90) Limerick, Ireland
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Nickname	The singing bank manager
Occupation	Bank manager
Club(s)
Years	Club
	Claughaun
Club titles
	Football	Hurling
Limerick titles	2	3
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County
1951–1959	Limerick
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	1
All-Irelands	0
NHL	0

Career

Kelly first played hurling as a schoolboy with CBS Sexton Street in the Harty Cup. He later lined out as a dual player with the Claughaun club and won three Limerick SHC medals and two Limerick SFC medals.^[2]

Kelly first appeared on the inter-county scene with Limerick during a two-year stint with the minor team in 1949 and 1950. He immediately progressed on the senior team in 1951. Kelly enjoyed his greatest success with Limerick when he scored 1–12 to beat Clare in the 1955 Munster final.^[3] He continued to line out with Limerick until 1959. Kelly also earned selection to the Munster team and won four Railway Cup medals in six seasons.^[4]

Personal life and death

As well as his sporting career, Kelly was also known as a songwriter and performer. He was also a member of the College Players Limerick in the 1950s and was a member of Conradh na Gaeilge. Kelly worked with the Bank of Ireland.^[5] His nephew, Stephen Lucey, was a dual player with Limerick.

Kelly was a renowned Irish ballad songwriter and composed many notable tunes including The Ballad Of Joseph McHugh about the famous Publican from Liscannor, County Clare. He was a past Captain and President of Lahinch Golf Club.

Kelly died on 22 February 2023, at the age of 90.^[6]

Honours

Claughaun

• Limerick Senior Football Championship: 1955, 1959
• Limerick Senior Hurling Championship: 1957, 1958, 1968

Limerick

• Munster Senior Hurling Championship: 1955

Munster

• Railway Cup: 1955, 1957, 1958, 1960