Page 63 - Guerin Media | Cork Airport Holiday & Destination Guide 2015
P. 63
CHRISTY RINGork’s greatest Hurler was the legendary Christy Ring. Born
CNicholas Christopher Michael Ring on 12th October 1920, he
lived and was schooled in Cloyne, County Cork.
One day, his School Master offered a Hurley and Sliotar to the You can view this life-sized, bronze stat-
pupil who gained the highest mark and Christy won the prize. From that ue of Christy Ring outside Cork Airport’s
day, the hurley was rarely out of his hand. He began his hurling career on Terminal Building. It was created by
the Cork Minor Team at the age of 16 and made the Senior Team aged 19. Sean McCarthy and erected in 2006.
Christly played hurling for Cork for 24 years, winning eight All-Ireland
medals, nine Munster medals, three National
Hurling League medals and had three All-Ireland victories as Captain. He
made 65 Championship appearances for Cork, a record held for 50 years
and was named Caltex Hurler of the Year in 1959. Regarded as one of
the greatest hurlers of all time, Christy Ring died of a heart attack at the
age of 58. His funeral was the one of the biggest ever seen in Cork, with
60,000 people lining the streets.
Jack Lynch, a former team mate and then Taoiseach spoke the Christy Ring “Ringy” (1920 - 1979)
following words at his graveside: “As long as young men will match their
hurling skills against each other on Ireland’s green fields, as long as young
boys swing their camáns for the sheer thrill of the feel and the tingle in
their fingers of the impact of ash on leather, as long as hurling is played,
the story of Christy Ring will be told. And that will be forever”.
CNicholas Christopher Michael Ring on 12th October 1920, he
lived and was schooled in Cloyne, County Cork.
One day, his School Master offered a Hurley and Sliotar to the You can view this life-sized, bronze stat-
pupil who gained the highest mark and Christy won the prize. From that ue of Christy Ring outside Cork Airport’s
day, the hurley was rarely out of his hand. He began his hurling career on Terminal Building. It was created by
the Cork Minor Team at the age of 16 and made the Senior Team aged 19. Sean McCarthy and erected in 2006.
Christly played hurling for Cork for 24 years, winning eight All-Ireland
medals, nine Munster medals, three National
Hurling League medals and had three All-Ireland victories as Captain. He
made 65 Championship appearances for Cork, a record held for 50 years
and was named Caltex Hurler of the Year in 1959. Regarded as one of
the greatest hurlers of all time, Christy Ring died of a heart attack at the
age of 58. His funeral was the one of the biggest ever seen in Cork, with
60,000 people lining the streets.
Jack Lynch, a former team mate and then Taoiseach spoke the Christy Ring “Ringy” (1920 - 1979)
following words at his graveside: “As long as young men will match their
hurling skills against each other on Ireland’s green fields, as long as young
boys swing their camáns for the sheer thrill of the feel and the tingle in
their fingers of the impact of ash on leather, as long as hurling is played,
the story of Christy Ring will be told. And that will be forever”.
