Billy Galligan

{{Infobox Gaelic games player

| code = Hurling

| sport = Hurling

| image =

| name = Billy Galligan

| irish =

| feet =

| inches =

| nickname = Billy Gal

| occupation = Cobbler

| county = Cork

| province = Munster

| clposition =

| clubs = Charleville
→ Avondhu
Blackrock
Lees
Claughaun

| clyears = 1955-1959
1958–1959
1960–1968
1960–1968
1969–1975

| clapps(points) =
2 (0-03)
19 (14-62)

| clcounty = 1

| clprovince =

| clallireland =

| counties = Cork

| icposition = Right wing-forward

| icyears = 1958–1962

| icapps(points) =

| icprovince = 0

| icallireland = 0

| nhl = 0

| clupdate =

| icupdate =

| birth_place = Charleville,
County Cork, Irish Free State

| birth_date = 5 January 1937{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.ie/transcript?id=IRE%2FBMD%2FD%2F692871775|title=William Galligan in 1937|publisher=Find My Past website|date=|access-date=5 February 2023|first=|last=}}

| death_place = Westbury, County Clare, Ireland

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2023|2|1|1937|1|5}}

}}

William Galligan (5 January 1937 – 1 February 2023) was an Irish hurler. He lined out with a number of club sides, including Charleville, Lees, Blackrock and Claughaun, and also played at inter-county level with Cork.

Career

Galligan first played hurling at juvenile and underage levels with the Seán Clárachs side that won consecutive North Cork MHC titles in 1952 and 1953.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/corkman/sport/other-sports/hurlers-glory-years-revisited-27059380.html|title=Hurlers glory years revisited|publisher=Irish Independent|date=3 July 2003|access-date=5 February 2023|first=|last=}} He progressed to adult level with Charleville, with his performances also earning selection for the Avondhu divisional team. Galligan transferred to the Blackrock club in 1960 and won a Cork SHC title after a defeat of Avondhu in the 1961 final. He transferred to the Claughaun club in Limerick in 1969 and won two consecutive Limerick SFC titles as well as a Limerick SHC title in 1971.{{cite news|url=https://limerickgaa.ie/granagh-ballingarry-gaa-club-notes-40/|title=Granagh-Ballingarry club notes|publisher=Limerick GAA website|date=|access-date=5 February 2023|first=|last=}}

Galligan first appeared on the inter-county scene as right wing-forward on the Cork junior hurling team that beat Warwickshire in the 1958 All-Ireland final.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/arid-20071321.html|title=Calling old champions|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=3 September 2008|access-date=5 February 2023|first=|last=}} He won a Munster JHC medal in 1960.{{cite news|url=https://munster.gaa.ie/history/jh_teams/|title=Junior Hurling|publisher=Munster GAA website|date=|access-date=5 February 2023|first=|last=}} Galligan also made a number of appearances for the senior team in various tournament games, however, he never made it onto the championship team. Galligan won an All-Ireland IHC medal in 1965.{{cite news|url=https://munster.gaa.ie/history/intermediate-hurling/|title=Intermediate Hurling|publisher=Munster GAA website|date=|access-date=5 February 2023|first=|last=}}

Personal life and death

Galligan's father, also called Bill, was also a hurler who played with a number of club teams, including Bruree, Croom, Ballyhea and Charleville. He also played with the London Irish team in the All-Ireland JHC. His son, Mike Galligan, played with Claughan and won National League and Munster SHC medals with Limerick.{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/Limerick/Article/Index/49045|title=Mike Galligan|publisher=Hogan Stand|date=7 June 1991|access-date=3 April 2021|first=|last=}}

Galligan died on 1 February 2023, at the age of 86.{{cite news|url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/1028580/tributes-paid-to-a-true-legend-of-limerick-gaa-club.html|title=Tributes paid to a 'true legend' of Limerick GAA club|publisher=Limerick Live|date=4 February 2023|access-date=5 February 2023|first=|last=}}