The Nickey Rackard statue in Wexford town.
THE 1955 All Ireland senior hurling championship medal won by the legendary Nickey Rackard is the top lot in an auction of sports memorabilia in Dublin next Tuesday, July 1st.
Rackard’s medal has a pre-auction value of between €5,000 and €7,000.
It is part of a sporting lot that includes other GAA memorabilia and rugby items at Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers’ sale.
This was the first senior All Ireland medal won by Rackard (1922-1976) when Wexford defeated Galway at Croke Park in September 1955.
The Killanne native was one of the best known sportsmen of the mid-20th century and was regarded by many as one of Ireland’s all-time great players.
In 36 championship appearances for Wexford he scored 59 goals and 96 points and was included on the ‘Hurling Team of the Century.”
He was a veterinary surgeon by profession and died aged 53 years in 1976.
The Nicky Rackard series for weaker counties carries his name.
A life-size statue to his memory was unveiled in Wexford town in 2012.
His brothers, Bobby and Billy, played alongside Nickey on the Wexford team and a signed photograph of Billy in action against Cork hurling legend, Christy Ring, is estimated at €75 to €100.
Story this week in THE WEXFORD ECHO Group of Newspapers.
