Kevin Horrigan - Kiladangan's British Hurling Hero!

A Kiladangan native who enjoyed great hurling success in Great Britain has been recognised with a new display at the Lar na bPairce Museum in Thurles.

Kevin Horrigan, Ashley Park, Nenagh started his hurling career with Kiladangan in 1953 playing under sixteen, minor and senior.

Before he emigrated in 1958, he had played against such stalwarts as Joe Salmon, Jimmy Finn and Tony Reddin in medal tournaments.

In the UK, he played first with Luton but then joined the great St. Colmcille’s Hurling and Football Club in St. Alban’s and won a senior championship medal and league honours in 1960.

He represented Hertfordshire for two years in the Provincial Championship of Great Britain. Kevin’s tally with the club includes four senior hurling championships, two league medals, one O’Donnell Cup and one Fr. O’Hanlon Cup medal.

Kevin was a very versatile player, having lined out in almost every position on the field, including goalie, but his favourite position was wing-back.

He was also a referee of note and has many games to his credit during the 1950s & 1960s. He officiated at county and provincial levels, including the final of the Provincial Hurling Championship on Great Britain.

Kevin, who was born in 1938, has retained his hurley from the early ‘sixties. It is a formidable weapon with three tin hoops holding it together and many battle scars from matches long ago.