Career
Born in Kinvara, County, Corless first excelled at hurling during his schooling at Saint Mary"s College. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the minor team In 1941 he Captained the Connacht Hurling team to glory.
He made his senior debut in 1943, and played on the 1944 championship.
Their proudest moment arrived in late 1951 when they made the epic trip to New York, beat the locals 2-11 over 2-8 and thus captured the 1950/51 National Hurling League title. Colum Corless wore the number two jersey.
Wexford were outscored 6-7 to 3-4 in the Home Final. He was an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.
He played with in New York and Chicago, the Harry Boland club
In 1956 he added a Dublin Senior Championship to his collection with Faughs Club. in 1979 he was awarded the Hall of Fame. He commenced marathon running in 1984, and completed 11 marathons (Dublin, Belfast, The Hague, Boston and New York) and many 10ks. In 1999 Corless took part in the National Veterans Championship in Tullamore winning Gold in the 100mt, 200mt,and 800mt, with Silver in the Shot Put and Bronze in the 400mt.
In 2000, aged 78, he improved, with Gold in the 100, 200, 400, 800 and Shot Put.
He went on to set the National record for the 800mt and was only.05mm outside the record for the Shot Put. Colum ran many 10k runs, and last competed at the age of 84 in the "Loughrea 5" completing it with ease.
At club level he played with Kinvara. Corless is widely regarded as having been one of the finest hurlers of his generation and as one of "s all-time greatest players.
He was on at least one winning championship team Football and Hurling in each of the 5 decades 1930s, 40s,50s,60s,and 70s.
His sporting career as a minor started in 1939, and his last sporting participation was in 2007, some 68 years in action, certainly Guinness book of record stuff ! Player.