| Saluting the gallant Rackard
By Henry Wymbs
 The introduction
of the Nicky Rackard Cup, won by London’s hurlers last year, brought
the Rackard name to the fore of Gaelic games almost 50 years after Wexford’s
legendary full-forward along with his three brothers became household
names.
The Rackard brothers from Killanne are one of the most famous families
in the history of hurling and they became instrumental in the rise of
game in the Model County in the ’50s when the four lined out in
the Leinster final of 1951.
Nicky is regarded as one of the iconic figures in the game and, together
with his brother Bobby, was named in the hurling team of the century.
Their youngest brother Billy is the sole survivor of the quartet and time
certainly has not affected his long memory in recalling games dating back
to 1950 Leinster final and also the famous 1956 All-Ireland hurling final
between Wexford and Cork.
Wexford were the emerging county taking on the mighty Rebels including
Christy Ring. The men in purple and gold were fearless and captured the
indomitable spirit of Vinegar Hill and Father Murphy of Boolavogue.
The Rackards hailed from the same house as 1798 rebel John Kelly —
the boy from Killanne. Their mother was a sister of John Doran, captain
of Wexford’s All-Ireland football team of 1918.
Rackard recalls: “John Kelly had his initials carved in one of the
stones in our home and people compared my older brother Nicky to him.
You see my brother was a powerfully built man, who stood well over six
feet tall with huge shoulders and enormous strength. He had wonderful
leadership qualities and was one of the great inspirational figures of
Wexford hurling.”
Nicky Rackard’s quality of leadership, apart from his hurling prowess,
really contributed to making Wexford the leading team of the ’50s.
In a career spanning 17 years he won every honour in the game including
two All-Ireland hurling medals in 1955 and 1956.
Although he successfully battled against alcoholism, cancer eventually
claimed the life of Nicky Rackard at the age of 53 but memories of his
feats from Wexford’s glorious ’50s continue to cherished by
all followers of the game from that time.
Nicky Rackard’s younger brother Bobby was an equally powerful man
and was distinguished by the fact that he always wore a cap. Further,
he is regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time. Even to this
day this quiet and private man has retained an aura of majesty about him.
Billy said: “Bobby was very special. He gave exhibition hurling
on every occasion and he shunned publicity and self-promotion even when
commercially it would have vastly increased his takings in his pub in
Killanne. I have never seen a man with such strength. He had massive shoulder
power and the duels with Cork’s Christy Ring are still being talked
about 50 years later.”
Bobby Rackard sadly died in 1996 at the age of 69. In a career spanning
20 years, sadly cut short due to a farming accident, Bobby won every honour
in the game including two All-Ireland medals in 1955 and ’56.
Finally Billy Rackard’s own contribution to Wexford’s glorious
era cannot be overstated.
Standing over six feet tall, he played centre half-back on the Wexford
and Leinster team for some 10 years. Although quite modest about his own
ability, Billy perfected the art of catching the dropping ball as he held
off his opponent with his shoulder while protecting his hand with the
hurley.
He said: “People nowadays find it hard to believe that hurling was
our main entertainment. When we were growing up the only thing we had
were hurleys. I remember winning the National Sports Star of the Year
award in 1955; the reason I mention this is to highlight the present day
symbiotic nature of sponsorship compared to then. For winning this award
I was taken to a pub and offered a bottle of Guinness. Mind you, I did
have my picture in the national paper!”
In a career spanning 15 years Billy also achieved every honour in the
game, including playing in six All-Ireland hurling finals and a number
of Leinster football finals. He won three All-Ireland hurling medals in
1955, 1956, and 1960.
While Wexford continues to be currently upstaged by Kilkenny in the battle
for Leinster’s hurling supremacy, their current squad need not look
too far for inspiration when reading the annals of Wexford glorious hurling
era of the ’50s. When Nicky Rackard began a hurling family’s
dynasty in 1941, he initiated something from the Boys of Killanne that
may never be repeated again.
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