Mary Fennelly

Mary E. Fennelly (1948 – 13 January 2025) was an Irish camogie player and administrator. At club level, she played with St Paul's and Celtic and at inter-county level with Dublin and Kilkenny. Fennelly also served as the president of the Camogie Association.

Playing career

Fennelly first played camogie to a high standard as a student at Presentation Secondary School in Kilkenny. After entering the Leinster Colleges SCC for the first time, the school reached the provincial final in 1966 but lost out to Oldcastle.

The absence of a juvenile camogie scene meant that Fennelly first played at club level with St Paul's in 1965. She won the first of three successive Kilkenny SCC titles that year, while she also claimed a Leinster Club SCC title in 1966. Fennelly later transferred to the Celtic club in Dublin and won a Dublin SCC title in 1973.

Fennelly returned to the St Paul's club in 1974 and won the first of seven successive Kilkenny SCC titles that year. She also won three Leinster Club SCC titles during this period, as well as All-Ireland Club SCC medals in 1974 and 1976. Fennelly brought her playing career to an end after winning her 10th Kilkenny SCC title in 1980.

At inter-county level, Fennelly first played with the Dublin senior camogie team in 1972. She declared for Kilkenny two years later. Fennelly won three All-Ireland SCC medals in a four-year period between 1974 and 1977, as well as captaining the team to victory over Dublin in the 1976 All-Ireland final. Her other inter-county honours include three Leinster SCC medals and a National Camogie League title. Fennelly also earned a call-up to the Leinster team and won two Gael Linn Cup medals.

Administrative career

Fennelly became involved in the administrative affairs of camogie during her playing days. She became secretary of the Kilkenny Camogie Board, a role which saw her organise the Féile na nGael in Kilkenny in 1978 and 1979, before later serving as secretary of the Leinster Council. Fennelly served as president of the Camogie Association from 1982 to 1985.

Personal life and death

Born in Stoneyford, County Kilkenny, Fennelly's father had played hurling and won a Kilkenny JHC medal with Stoneyford in 1943. He later served as chairman of the Kilkenny Camogie Board. Her cousins, Kevin, Seán, Ger and Liam Fennelly, played with Ballyhale Shamrocks and Kilkenny. Fennelly was educated at the local national school before attending Presentation Secondary School in Kilkenny. She worked as a secretary in a number of firms in Dublin and Kilkenny before becoming staff officer with Kilkenny County Council.

Fennelly died on 13 January 2025, at the age of 76.

Honours

;Celtic
* Dublin Senior Camogie Championship: 1973

;St Paul's
* All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship: 1974, 1976
* Leinster Senior Club Camogie Championship: 1966, 1974, 1976, 1977
* Kilkenny Senior Camogie Championship: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980

;Kilkenny
* All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship: 1974, 1976 (c), 1977
* Leinster Senior Camogie Championship: 1976 (c), 1977, 1980
* National Camogie League: 1978

;Leinster
* Gael Linn Cup: 1968, 1978

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fennelly, Mary
1948 births
2025 deaths
Fennelly family
Dublin camogie players
Kilkenny camogie players
Presidents of the Camogie Association