The Late Willie Hackett Earlier this year the great reaper called home one of the fine gentleman of the past eight decades, Willie Hackett of Liberty Square, Thurles. The late Willie was a man who always smiled through life and was as gentle as they came. A native of Piercetown Willie moved into town when he married Mai Morris at 35, Liberty Square where her family carried on a pub and grocery business and I where her father Tom, operated a licensed bookmakers shop. Born in Piercetown over 80 years ago Willie and his brother Tom were respected members of the farming stock and of the community and its wider environs. Willie attended Kylemakill national school and afterwards Thurles C.B.S where he was a member of the Harty Cup hurling squads and would have won a medal in 1938 but for illness which prevented him from playing in the final rounds of the competition. It was hard luck on the genial Willie that he did not so qualify for a medal. An uncle of the Hacketts was Canon Thomas Hackett parish priest of Loughmore-Castleiney who one of the chief organisers in bringing back the remains of the Cormack brothers from Nenagh jail for reburial in the vault in Loughmore cemetery. Willie was known wide and far as a cattle dealer and dealt with small farmers who were not mart goers. His shrewd acumen for dealing kept his customers happy as they had not the hassle to drive their cattle to local fairs or use the marts in more recent years. Their satisfaction with Willie was that they sold to him year after year. Willie Hackett kept on farming in Piercetown after getting married and was a daily traveller from Thurles via Ballygammane to inspect his stock. His preferred choice the Volkswagen and car trailer were familiar sights on that road. Willie also took a lot of pride in his pedigree Hereford cattle and bred animals for presentation at shows and exhibitions. He won many prizes for his champion stock. A great historian, tracer and storyteller Willie liked nothing more than reminiscing in a leisurely way about times past with friends and neighbours. His unhurried style and gentle smile made him acceptable in any company. The friends submitting this appreciation remember a Sunday in the 1970's when they missed the train to the Munster final in Limerick and downhearted at their failure were facing down the Square and homewards. Then they met Willie Hackett who was stocking up his car with the sandwiches and minerals for the trip to the Gaelic grounds and on hearing their predicament offered them a lift. What an enjoyable occasion it proved as they enjoyed Willie's congenial company on the round trip. Returning home the scenic route via Newport Willie gave his two companions a great history of the area, an knowledge gleaned from his various dealing with the mountainy residents for cattle, sheep, turkeys and geese over the years. He was in his delightful element retelling the stories again of a people and times past. His mother was a native of Newport so he would be also familiar with the region for that reason. The pub in Liberty square was the scene for the visit of many famous journalists and hurlers on big match days and Con Houlihan once described it as "a great place for an after match quiet drink in a back room in that friendliest of pubs presided over by Willie and Mai". A G.A.A. and especially hurling man at heart Willie Hackett played with the Thurles Sarsfields club in their herculean days of the late 1950's and early '60's. He won many honour at both Mid and county levels mostly playing in the full back line and was a tenacious and solid defender. He had to be to retain a place on those excellent teams of that era. He remained a true "blue" and also a great follower of Tipperary county teams. Three years ago Willie was one of those honoured by Thurles Sarsfields in the reunion of the 1954 senior, No 1 junior and minor county championship winning teams of that famous year for the Sarsfields.The Hackett homestead in Piercetown was the setting of a training pitch for the young hurlers in the locality in that period too; the field was always well maintained with markings and goalposts in operation. The venue was the scene of many inter area hurling games between Coldfields, Ballyduff and Two-Mile-Borris teams on warm Sundays and summer evenings. Willie Hackett was a fine and noble Christian and we are unlikely to see his likes again. "Friends" Courtesy of the Tipperary Star 4 August 2007 Tweet

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