National Forum

GAA Players Or Managers That Deserve A Statue

(Oldest Posts First)

I'd like to see Joe Canning get a statue in Galway. Tony Kelly in Clare. Any other examples?

SouthGalway (Galway) - Posts: 18 - 17/09/2025 15:43:05    2636595

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Replying To SouthGalway:  "I'd like to see Joe Canning get a statue in Galway. Tony Kelly in Clare. Any other examples?"
Never mind a statue, Tony Kelly's face should be printed on money.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2510 - 17/09/2025 16:12:39    2636599

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Replying To SouthGalway:  "I'd like to see Joe Canning get a statue in Galway. Tony Kelly in Clare. Any other examples?"
I'd erect a statue myself for John O'Mahony despite being a Mayo man and all. Jim Gavin should definitely get a statue at the foot of Hill 16.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1511 - 17/09/2025 18:01:40    2636610

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Replying To Bon:  "Never mind a statue, Tony Kelly's face should be printed on money."
Dan Morrissey. Preferably with him clearing four or five opponents. But there is no stone or element hard enough to do him justice! Also Ciaran Carey and TJ Reid.

stpats1886 (Limerick) - Posts: 40 - 17/09/2025 18:57:13    2636614

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Replying To Bon:  "Never mind a statue, Tony Kelly's face should be printed on money."
I can't argue with that. lol.

SouthGalway (Galway) - Posts: 18 - 17/09/2025 19:37:23    2636616

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Replying To SouthGalway:  "I'd like to see Joe Canning get a statue in Galway. Tony Kelly in Clare. Any other examples?"
I'm sure both will.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17076 - 17/09/2025 21:08:23    2636621

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There's a statue of John Joe O'Reilly on the square in Cavan Town. It's very well deserved and actually pretty impressive when you consider the amount of cringe statues you see with questionable likenesses

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12492 - 18/09/2025 07:13:24    2636625

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Lots of suggestions here for people who are still alive. Dangerous thing to be erecting statues or naming stands etc after someone until they're at least 10 years dead. That's the usual rule of thumb for local authorities anyway ie they have to be dead and for 10 years at that. Otherwise you risk something coming out about them.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1643 - 18/09/2025 09:49:20    2636631

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We have the rackard one in Wexford which is great.

I would say the only player in my lifetime who'd warrant similar attention is Damien fitzhenry. One all Ireland, 3 Leinster, last man standing from the 90s, two all stars and I would argue the best player in his position ever to play the game.

In terms of the old enemy. Surely Brian Cody's achievements are unparalleled

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 18/09/2025 09:54:46    2636634

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We have Dermot and Gerry O'Malley already.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 117 - 18/09/2025 11:05:59    2636641

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Replying To Seanfan:  "We have Dermot and Gerry O'Malley already."
There are quite a few statues around the country as it is. Think there was a thread about them a few years back.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17076 - 18/09/2025 12:24:44    2636648

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "Lots of suggestions here for people who are still alive. Dangerous thing to be erecting statues or naming stands etc after someone until they're at least 10 years dead. That's the usual rule of thumb for local authorities anyway ie they have to be dead and for 10 years at that. Otherwise you risk something coming out about them."
There's a statue of Séan Boylan outside Dunboyne Castle Hotel. Made me think that sometimes it's nice to honour the living. And Séan Boylan deserves that honour. A gentleman.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8247 - 18/09/2025 12:27:50    2636650

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "We have the rackard one in Wexford which is great.

I would say the only player in my lifetime who'd warrant similar attention is Damien fitzhenry. One all Ireland, 3 Leinster, last man standing from the 90s, two all stars and I would argue the best player in his position ever to play the game.

In terms of the old enemy. Surely Brian Cody's achievements are unparalleled"
Cody definitely in Nowlan Park but doubt he would want it a word on Damian Fitzhenry he was goalie when some of the greatest goalies ever lived were hurling, like b Cummins, Donal O,f Davy F, to name but some and IMO he was the greatest of that era, some achievement.

clooney (Clare) - Posts: 1002 - 18/09/2025 13:02:11    2636656

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Replying To clooney:  "Cody definitely in Nowlan Park but doubt he would want it a word on Damian Fitzhenry he was goalie when some of the greatest goalies ever lived were hurling, like b Cummins, Donal O,f Davy F, to name but some and IMO he was the greatest of that era, some achievement."
It was a remarkable era for goalkeepers alright.

I would say fitzhenry and Donal og were probably the start of the modern game in that they were the first to realise that they could stop shots but also really influence outcomes with intelligent and accurate distribution.

Cummins could stop a bullet.

Davy was an unbelievably inspirational leader at a time when Clare had an abundance of men of character. I loved that 90s Clare team, particularly seanie Mac

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 18/09/2025 14:38:02    2636679

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The one I'm amazed hasn't been immortalised yet is Micheal O'Muircheartaigh.
A statue around Croke Park somewhere is surely in order?
In fact, I'd wonder if we should re-name a stand after him, one of the upper tiers could be re-named after him.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1485 - 18/09/2025 14:54:37    2636682

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