Lil Kirby
{{Short description|Irish camogie player (1921–1987)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Lil Kirby, Éilís Ní Chiarbha
| image =Elizabeth Lil Kirby.png
| caption =Kirby in 1937 as UCC captain
| order = 5th
| office = President of the Camogie Association
| termstart=1942
| termend=1945
| succeeded=Agnes Hennessy
| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|1|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Cork, Ireland
| death_date = {{death date and age|1987|11|30|1921|1|24|df=y}}
| death_place= Bandon, Ireland
| party =
| spouse = David Crowley{{cite web|url = http://www.camogie.ie/presidents.asp | publisher = Camogie Association | website = camogie.ie | title = Camogue Association - Past Presidents | access-date = 19 October 2019 }}
| children =
| profession =
| signature =
|}}
Elizabeth "Lil" Kirby ({{langx|ga|Éilís Ní Chiarbha}}; 1921–1987) was a camogie player who won six All Ireland medals and became fifth president of the Camogie Association.{{cite book | last = Moran | first = Mary | author-link = Mary Moran (camogie) | title = A Game of Our Own: The History of Camogie | publisher = Cumann Camógaíochta | year = 2011 | location = Dublin, Ireland | pages = 460}}
Early life
She was the daughter of DW Kirby of Carrigpeter, Bishopstown Park, Model Farm Road, Cork. She went to University College Cork,{{cite web|url = https://gaa.ucc.ie/camogie/ | publisher = University College Cork | website = gaa.ucc.ie | title = UCC GAA Club - Teams - Camogie |access-date = 19 October 2019 | quote = Famous names to don the UCC skull and crossbones jersey include [..] Elizabeth "Lil" Kirby who was the fifth President of the Camogie Assiociation}} and played on Ashbourne Cup camogie teams, joined Sunday's Well swimming club (winning the ocean swim from Crosshaven to Ocean's Point in 1940), Muskerry golf club, and became captain of her local Reserve Defence Forces during The Emergency. Members of Old Aloysians camogie club formed an archway of hurleys when she married David Crowley on 18 April 1941 in the Honan Chapel, University College Cork.Cork Examiner, 18 April 1942
Playing career
She won All Ireland medals at midfield in 1934, 1935, 1936, 1939, 1940 and 1941, when she captained the team. She also refereed the 1937 All Ireland final between Dublin and Galway. Her record of six All Ireland medals was not equalled until 1953 and not by a Cork player until Pat Maloney and Marion McCarthy both won their sixth medal in 1980.{{fact|date=June 2021}}
Achievements
Lil Kirby was a decorated player. She is one of thirteen players to have six All-Ireland camogie medals.{{cite book|title=A Game of Our Own: Camogie's Story|last1=Moran|first1=Mary|date=2011|publisher=Cumann Camógaíochta|isbn=978-1908591005|location=Dublin|page=460}} These are from the years 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1940 and 1941.{{cite web|url=http://www.camogie.ie/presidents.asp|title=Presidents|website=The Camogie Association|access-date=24 October 2019}} She captained the team in 1940, leading them to success over Galway in the final. She captained then UCC university team and led them to win the Ashbourne Cup in the year 1936.{{Cite news|title=Sporting Gossip|date=10 February 1936|work=The Irish Times|id={{ProQuest|522334482}}}} She also captained the team in 1937, where they were beaten by UCD in the final.{{cite news|url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA.Edu/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1937%2F02%2F06&id=Ar01319&sk=A230138E|title=Keen Duels Promised for Ashbourne Cup|date=6 February 1937|access-date=24 October 2019|publisher=Irish Press}}{{cite news|url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA.Edu/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IND%2F1937%2F02%2F08&id=Ar01316&sk=6DB3A371|title=Ashbourne Cup Regained by UCD|date=8 February 2019|access-date=24 October 2019|publisher=Irish Independent}} The Ashbourne Cup is an Irish inter-varsity camogie championship played every year, the cup for which was donated by Lord Ashbourne in 1915.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ccao.ie/index.php/history|title=Origins of the Ashbourne Cup|date=11 September 2011|website=CCAO|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911233148/http://www.ccao.ie/index.php/history|archive-date=2011-09-11|access-date=11 November 2019}} Kirby also refereed matches during the course of her career including the 1937 All Ireland Final between Dublin and Galway as well as a senior match between Glen Rovers and Barryroc in 1936.{{cite news|url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA.Edu/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IEX%2F1936%2F03%2F25&id=Ar01203&sk=BC9FB0D9|title=Cork County Camogie Board - Senior Matches|date=25 March 1936|access-date=24 October 2019|publisher=Irish Examiner}} Kirby was the first female chair of the Cork County Board, a position she held from the year 1938 to 1942. According to the Camogie Association's website, the board "benefited from her firm and capable leadership". Kirby was also the first woman to become president of the Camogie Association. She held this position from 1942 to 1945 inclusive. She took on this position soon after a dispute occurred between the Cork and Dublin county boards. This dispute was over the GAA banning GAA players from playing "foreign" sports, such as football and hockey. Kirby was also described as a "top class swimmer" and swam over two miles from White Bay to Graball Bay across Cork Harbour in 1931. She was the first woman to finish the swim, and second overall.
Later life
She became involved in the Irish Countrywoman's Association and continued to play whist after her husband died in 1975.
References
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Category:Alumni of University College Cork
Category:Presidents of the Camogie Association