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Features > Tipperary Hurling Immortals
Born: 1904
Died: 1985
Tipperary championship career: 1926-1942
Clubs: Killea and Young Irelands (Dublin)
Honours
2 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Medals – 1930, 1937
3 Munster Senior Hurling Medals – 1930, 1937, 1941
1 Leinster Senior Hurling Medal – 1934
1 National Hurling League Medal – 1928
4 Railway Cup Medals – 1930, 1931, 1933 (with Leinster), 1934
1 All-Ireland Junior Hurling Medal - 1926
‘The work done at mid-field by Treacy was grand
And the cheers for that hero that came down from the stand
Will live in our memory until we are dead
And the crimson stained bandage he wore round his head’
In a time of tough, uncompromising hurling Tommy Treacy epitomised the spirit of the era. Brave, full-blooded, powerful, fearless, and wholehearted are just some of the superlatives used to describe the Colossus from Killea. His dashing style around midfield and at centre forward was a feature of Tippeary’s All-Ireland wins of the 1930s. That he stood out amongst his generation justifies his place in the company of Tipperary Hurling Immortals.
Tommy was born in Killea and first came to prominence in 1926 when he won an All-Ireland junior medal with Tipperary. He graduated to senior ranks in the league campaign of 1927/28, where he helped Tipperary to their first ever title. In 1930, he was part of the Tipperary senior team that completed the Triple Crown, along with wins at minor and junior level. In the final of that year Tommy partnered Jim Lanigan of Thurles at midfield. The Tipperary Star had this to say about his performance:
‘Treacy, with a blood-stained bandage round his head personified the spirit of the game. Right and left, he crashed and smashed through everything; he must in fact have all the ghosts of departed Tipperary hurlers on his side’.
Later Tommy took part in the tour of North America in September 1931, after which Tipperary were crowned World Champions. Tommy later expressed many happy memories of that great tour.
Work brought Tommy to Dublin, where he became deeply involved in the Young Irelands club. In fact, he threw his lot in with Dublin in the 1934 championship and they dethroned All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in the replayed Leinster final. In the drawn game Dublin had been ahead when three rapid Kilkenny goals in the dying moments gave them a one-point lead. Tommy equalised from a free to bring the game to a replay, which Dublin won convincingly. In the final of that year Dublin faced a newly emerging Limerick team, which included the great Mick Mackey. The sides ended level in the first outing. Tommy was critical of a decision by the Dublin mentors in the replay in bringing on a ‘one-armed man’, namely Charlie McMahon, who came on as a sub despite an injured hand. He felt that this move cost Dublin the game.
Tommy must have craved a return to Tipperary hurling and he did so in 1936. He marked his comeback in emphatic style with a great display in a league victory over All-Ireland champions Limerick in November of that year, where he marked Paddy Clohessy, one of his toughest opponents. Once again the bards were composing verses of praise:
Treacy’s the hurler and Treacy’s the man
Was the slogan on Sunday when he guided the van
He added another bright gem to his crown
When Thomond’s proud stalwarts so proudly went down.
He’s honoured indeed and not honoured in vain
He’ll lead us to victory again and again
He marshalled his team like a veteran bold
And showed us the style of Tipperary of old.
Tommy’s ongoing commitment to Tipperary was remarkable in an era when travel was more demanding and when playing for Dublin brought reasonable prospects of honours. These difficulties are illustrated by an event in 1937; Tommy played a Dublin championship match with Young Ireland’s in the morning and then set off with Jimmy Cooney to a Munster championship game against Cork. They arrived after the throw in and played no part in the game. Nevertheless, he did ‘lead us to victory again’ when he played in the Munster and All-Ireland finals later that year, scoring 1-2 in the final.
Tommy continued to hurl for Tipp but was a victim of the ‘Cooney case’ controversy of 1938 and the ‘Foot and Mouth’ All-Ireland of 1941. He retired from inter-county hurling in 1942 after Tipperary suffered a heavy defeat to Cork in the Munster Final, but later regretted that he did not continue until 1945 as he could have shared a unique third medal with friend John Maher.
His chief attribute on the field of play was his strength. Indeed one contemporary commentator recalled a goal scored by Tommy in a game at Cork Showgrounds. Such was the power in the shot that had the net not stopped the ball, he said, it would have hit Blackrock Castle over 2 miles away!
Tommy lived in Dublin for the remainder of his years, where he maintained his involvement with Young Irelands, serving a term as club chairman. He worked in the Johnston, Mooney & O’ Brien Bakery and lived in Phibsborough, where he welcomed many young Gaels from Tipperary to the capital. Other achievements were his involvement as vice-president of the Tipperary Association in Dublin, and he was also a patron of Semple Stadium. In later years Tommy was in failing health, but his spirits were undoubtedly lifted by visits from the Tipperary minor teams after their All-Ireland victories in 1980 and 1982. The Mid Tipperary Board honoured him with the Hall of Fame award in Centenary Year. Upon his death in September 1985 his remains were brought back to Templemore for burial alongside his wife Ellen.