Mick O'Connell facts for kids

Michael O'Connell (born 4 January 1937), often called Micko, is a famous Irish former Gaelic football player. He played for 25 years with his local clubs, winning many titles. He also played for the Kerry county team, which is one of the best teams in Ireland. Mick O'Connell helped Kerry win four All-Ireland Championships, which is a huge achievement in Gaelic football. He is known as one of the greatest players of all time.

Early Life and Football Start

Mick O'Connell was born on Valentia Island in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1937. His dad was a fisherman and also worked on their small family farm. From a young age, Mick showed amazing talent for football. People could tell he was going to be a special player.

Playing Career Highlights

Club Football Journey

Mick O'Connell started his club football career with a team called Waterville. Later, a new football club, Young Islanders, was started on his home, Valentia Island. Because of the rules of the GAA, Mick switched to play for his local team. He also played for a bigger team called South Kerry and won three Kerry County Championship medals with them.

Playing for Kerry County Team

Starting Out with Kerry

Mick O'Connell began playing for the Kerry county team in 1955. He first played in the Munster Minor Championship, which is for younger players. Soon after, in 1956, he joined the senior Kerry team. His first big game was against Tipperary in the Munster Championship.

Winning All-Ireland Titles

In 1958, Mick O'Connell won the first of eight Munster titles in a row with Kerry. In 1959, he was the captain when Kerry won the National Football League. That same year, he led Kerry to another Munster title. Even though he got injured in the All-Ireland final against Galway, Kerry still won, and Mick earned his first All-Ireland medal!

He won his second All-Ireland medal in 1962 when Kerry beat Roscommon in the final. Mick also helped Kerry win more National League titles in 1961 and 1963. After a few tough years, Kerry came back strong. In 1969, Mick won his fourth National League medal and his tenth Munster title. He then won his third All-Ireland medal after Kerry defeated Offaly.

Later Years and Retirement

In 1970, Mick O'Connell continued his amazing career, winning his eleventh Munster title. He then won his fourth All-Ireland medal when Kerry beat Meath in a very long final. He won two more National League medals in 1971 and 1972. In 1972, he won his twelfth and final Munster medal. That year, Kerry lost to Offaly in the All-Ireland final, which was Mick's last time playing in that big game. Even with the loss, he received an All-Star award, which means he was one of the best players that year. Mick O'Connell stopped playing for Kerry in 1973.

Life After Football

After he stopped playing, Mick O'Connell wrote a book about his life called A Kerry Footballer in 1974. His amazing skills were remembered when he was chosen for the GAA Football Team of the Century in 1984. This team was picked to celebrate 100 years of the GAA. In 2000, he was also named on the 'Football Team of the Millennium', showing how highly he is thought of as one of the greatest players ever.

Family Life

Mick O'Connell married his wife, Rosaleen, in 1972. They have three children named Máire, Mícheál, and Diarmuid. Their son Mícheál married Emma, who is the daughter of former Irish President Mary McAleese.

Honours and Achievements

Here are some of the big awards and championships Mick O'Connell won:

Valentia Young Islanders

• South Kerry Senior Football Championship: 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1979
• Kerry Novice Football Championship: 1975

South Kerry

• Kerry Senior Football Championship: 1955, 1956, 1958

Kerry

• All-Ireland Senior Football Championship: 1959 (as captain), 1962, 1969, 1970
• Munster Senior Football Championship: 1958, 1959 (as captain), 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
• National Football League: 1958–59 (as captain), 1960–61, 1962–63, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73

Munster

• Railway Cup: 1972

See also

• List of people on the postage stamps of Ireland