Lil Kirby

Background

She was the daughter of DW Kirby and Carrigpeter, Model Farm Road, Cork.

Career

She went to University College Cork and played on Ashbourne Cup camogie teams, joined Sunday"s Well swimming club (winning the ocean swim from Crosshaven to Ocean’s Point in 1940), Muskerry golf club, and became captain of her local Security Force Squad during the second world war. She also refereed the 1937 All Ireland final between Dublin and Galway. While still a player she became chair of Cork camogie board in December 1938 and president of the Camogie Association in 1942 when both the Cork and Dublin county boards were under suspension by central council for a disagreement over the ban on playing hockey.

Achievements

• She won All Ireland medals at midfield in 1934, 1935, 1936, 1939, 1940 and 1941, when she captained the team Her record of six All Ireland medals was not equalled until 1953 and not by a Cork player until Pat Maloney and Marion McCarthy both won their sixth medal in 1980.