More power to hurling legend at Ardnacrusha

One of the greats of the game spent his working life at Ardnacrusha and ended up buying his home from the ESB, writes Dan Danaher

LEGENDARY Limerick hurler, Mick Mackey enjoyed working in Ardnacrusha Power station for almost 50 years, according to his son, Michael.

Mick Mackey was one of the greatest hurlers who has been repeatedly voted on to teams representing hurling greats, including at centre-forward on the Hurling Team of the Century in 1984 and the Hurling Team of the Millennium in 2000.

While Mick Mackey is a household name in GAA circles, his strong association with Ardnacrusha isn’t as widely known.

In addition to working in Ardnacrusha Power Station for five decades, the burly centre-forward also lived in an ESB house just a stone’s throw from the station for 29 years until his untimely death in 1982 at the age of 70.

During his 17-year career with Limerick hurlers, he won three All-Ireland medals, five Munster medals and five National Hurling League medals.

An All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions, Mackey also captained the team to two All-Ireland victories.

In 1955, he managed Limerick who were known as “Mackey’s Greyhounds” to provincial glory following an unexpected win over Clare in the final.

Mick represented the Munster inter-provincial team for 12 years, winning eight Railway Cup medals during that period.

His brother, John Mackey, also shared in these victories while his father, “Tyler” Mackey was a one-time All-Ireland runner-up with Limerick.

Michael is unable to shed any light on what his father said to Cork’s Christy Ring during the 1957 Munster SHC semi-final between the Rebels and Waterford.

Mackey was one of the umpires for the game and Ring, who was photographed at the time with his right hand in a sling, was forced to leave the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick with an injury.

In fact, Michael stresses his father never even told their mother what transpired between two hurling legends that day.

“My father never told my mother or anyone of us what he said to Christy Ring that day. He took it to the grave with him. He was a shy man.”

Following a stint in the Irish Army, Mick started a job as a van driver with the ESB in Ardnacrusha in 1930 at the age of 18.

Mick Mackey used to be the senior driver of cars and lorries in Ardnacrusha Power Station, which included making deliveries and collecting items from other power stations and businesses throughout the country.

The Castleconnell native used to cycle to the Old River Shannon at the Falls of Doonass, leave his bicycle on the boat, row across to the Clare side and tie up his boat before cycling six miles to Ardnacrusha. His boat was left mooring on the banks of the River Shannon until he made the return trip after work.

Mick was married to Kathleen “Kitty” Kennedy and the couple had five children: Paddy, Ruth, Greg, Audrey and Ruth.

In 1953, Mick moved from Limerick City to Ardnacrusha and took up residence in what of the so-called ESB houses adjoining the local pitch and putt club where he remained until his death on September 13, 1982.

Michael estimates his father was paying the ESB a nominal rent in the region of about £1.50 to rent their family home from the company for decades.

This included maintenance works such as cutting the lawn, hedges, paint and wire the inside of the house.

Just before his retirement at the age of 65, Michael was called into the office and told by his boss he should start thinking about getting another house for his retirement.

“My father told him, ‘I am not going anywhere, this is my house, I am staying in it’.

His boss said ‘you can’t do that’. Mick said ‘can’t I’, when you retire, you will have to look for a house as well.

“His boss asked him what am I supposed to do. Mick told him to go up to Dublin and ask the company would they allow him to purchase his house.”

Subsequent negotiations between both parties resulted in a deal for Mick to purchase the three bedroom house from the ESB over a ten-year period.

Michael recalled Mick’s job involved a lot of travelling collecting and delivering equipment from various stations throughout the country. This included trips to Dublin and Cork.

However, Michael said his father refused as one stage to drive to Belfast for the company during the height of the so-called Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Apart from hurling, Michael said his father loved playing cards and regularly travelled to Gunning’s pub in Sixmilebridge to play 45.

Mick also liked taking a walk down along the canal bank in Ardnacrusha in an area known locally as the “path”.

Two of his neighbours had a big Labrador dog who used to sit outside the wall of Mick’s house until he would emerge to take the dogs for a leisurely walk.

Playing golf was another passion and he played against Cork hurler and former Taoiseach, Jack Lynch.

After attending national schools in Limerick City, Michael (71) worked in a Limerick Shoe Factory and as a doorman for Geary’s Hotel as well as Todd’s department store, now Brown Thomas, in
Limerick before he started working on a part-time basis as a labourer in Ardnacrusha.

He has lived in Ardnacrusha for almost 70 years, having first moved into the house when he was just three years of age.

The bachelor became a full time employee in 1974 and continued working until he took early retirement to look after his mother, Kathleen in 2003 until her death and didn’t go back to the ESB.

“I enjoyed my time working in the ESB. I used to help out the electricians and fitters if they needed assistance on various jobs.

“I got on well with all the lads. There was good fun and banter at work. I worked with the likes of Danny Boland, Martin Barry, who used to replace transformers, Brendan Barry, lock-keeper, the late Gerry King, Seán Treacy and the late Terry McInerney. I have happy memories of my time in the plant.”

Michael played hurling with Parteen GAA in the forwards for a number of years and also enjoyed playing pitch and putt in the local club in the sixties.

Sporting memorabilia linked to his father including a Limerick Sports Personality Hall of Fame award in 1978 and a Waterford Glass replica of the Liam McCarthy Cup that was presented to him
by former GAA President Seán Kelly are proudly displayed in his sitting room cabinet.