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Noted sportsman
and Nationalist
Before the GAA ban on English sports came into
being, Dr Croke members played with other sporting
bodies and some, because of their Athletic ability
reached the pinnacle in other sports.
One such man was Dr. William
O’Sullivan of “Inch House”, New Street, Killarney who
was an Irish Rugby International Player in 1895,
captained Queens College, Cork (now UCC) to Munster
Senior Rugby Cup success in the same year, played
cricket, hockey and was a noted oarsman, being a member
of the Lough Lein Rowing Club.
But the GAA and the Crokes were
his great passion and he was a regular on both county
and club teams during the 1890s. He was selected with
two other clubmen on the Laune Rangers selection who
were defeated by Young Irelands, Dublin in the All
Ireland Final of 1892. The game was played in Clonturk
Park, Drumcondra Dublin in the first 17-a-side,[ reduced
from 21-a-side] .
Dr William had won his Munster
medal on a snowy day in Fermoy where Kerrys Laune
Rangers beat Waterfords Dungarven. Even though for the
next decade the Kingdom entered a doldrums period of
disinterest and inactivity at Inter County level the
Crokes were still competing within the county and the
Doctor continued to excel. He scored 2 points in the
County Final defeat by Laune Rangers at Tralee
Sportsfield on Sunday December 2, 1900 and so failed in
his bid to win the much prized County medal.
The following year proved a
most successful season for the club as they captured
their first senior County title by defeating Cahirsiveen
on the score of 1-2 to 0-2 on Sunday August 1902.
Dr William, having failed to
win County honours in his playing days now turned to
trainer/ coach/ mentor/ as the 1901 victory photograph
prominently shows him as such. Although he did not
figure in the 1901 field of play he played a hugely
important role in successfully refuting the strong
objections of Tralee Mitchels to their Semifinal defeat
by Crokes on the 30/3/1902. He failed to sway a
prejudiced County Board but successfully brought his
clubs appeal to the Munster Council who awarded the Semi
final victory to Dr Crokes on the 19/7/1902 thus paving
the way for the clubs first County championship title.
He was also to the fore when
Kerry won their first All Ireland, when beating Kildare,
as a post script on the newspapers reports of the game
said “Dr William O’ Sullivan of Killarney tended to the
needs of players from both sides.”
Senator 1922/1935
During the Black and Tan regime
he had to leave Killarney owing to his Nationalist
sympathies and on the establishment of the Irish Free
State he was made a senator. He served Ireland in
Seanad Eireann 1922-1935. It was during his exile to
Newcastle N.E. England that he took his M.D. at
Edinburgh.
Grandsons
Dr.Williams
grandsons-Billy and Simon- both from Inch House, wore
the Black and Amber of Dr.Crokes with distincton during
the 1970’s and 1980’s.
His Life
William
O’ Sullivan was one of two sons born into the O’Sullivan
family of Batterfield in the parish of Firies in 1894.
His brother was Cornelius who predeceased him. On
completion of his primary and secondary schooling in
Firies and St.Brendans Killarney he began his medical
studies at Queens College [now U. C. C. ]. For almost
60 years he served as Medical Officer of Killarney No 2
District which included St Columbanus Home and the local
District Hospital and was Coroner for East Kerry.
He married Nora 0 Mara of
Limerick and resided at Inch House where he had his
private practice and where they reared their nine
children.
U. D. C. Tribute.
Fellow Dr Croke stalwart Mr J J
Hallahan [Chairman] paid tribute to his club colleague.
“Dr O Sullivan was an outstanding figure in the life of
Killarney for over 60 years. He will be remembered
particularly for his kindness to the sick and poor who
came under his care in Killarney No 2 District.”
His contribution to the
Killarney Valley was immense across the broad spectrum
of Sporting, Political, and Medical life.
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