George Lavery
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Seoirse Ó Labhraí | ||
| Sport | Gaelic football | ||
| Position | Left corner-back | ||
| Born |
April 1931[1] Moira, Northern Ireland | ||
| Died |
(aged 93) Belfast, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| Kilwarlin | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Down titles | 0 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | ||
1952 1953–1965 |
Antrim Down | ||
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Ulster titles | 5 | ||
| All-Irelands | 2 | ||
| NFL | 2 | ||
James George Lavery (April 1931 – 8 May 2024) was a Northern Irish Gaelic footballer and selector. He played at club level with Kilwarlin and at inter-county level with the Down senior football team.[2]
Playing career[edit]
Lavery first played Gaelic football at inter-county level with the Antrim senior football team. He made his debut in the Dr Lagan Cup in 1952, but declared for Down the following year.[3] After missing the 1958 Ulster final due to confusion in his travel arrangements, Lavery won his first provincial medal in 1959. It was the first of three successive Ulster SFC titles, while he also claimed consecutive All-Ireland SFC medals in 1960 and 1961.[4][5] Lavery won five Ulster SFC titles in all, as well as two National League titles. He was also a substitute on the Ulster team that claimed Railway Cup honours in 1956.
Management career[edit]
After bringing his inter-county career to an end in 1965, Lavery moved to management and immediately became a selector with the Down senior team. During his tenure with the team, Down won two Ulster SFC titles, a National League title and a third All-Ireland SFC title after beating Kerry in the 1968 All-Ireland final.[6]
Death[edit]
Lavery died at a Belfast nursing home on 8 May 2024, at the age of 93.[7]
Honours[edit]
Player[edit]
- Down
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship: 1960, 1961
- Ulster Senior Football Championship: 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1965
- National Football League: 1959–60, 1961–62
- Ulster
- Railway Cup: 1956
Management[edit]
- Down
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship: 1968
- Ulster Senior Football Championship: 1966, 1968
- National Football League: 1967–68
References[edit]
- ^ "Stars of the County Down". Irish Press. 20 September 1960. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Paddy Mo's greatest Down side of all time". Down Recorder. 22 April 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Heroes who went Down in history". Belfast Telegraph. 16 April 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "The boys of summer: Down's 1968 heroes recall glorious All-Ireland triumph 50 years on". The Irish News. 21 September 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ "We had good times". Down Recorder. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "'George was one of that generation of icons who have helped to make us the proud county that we are'". The Irish News. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "The Late George Lavery". Down GAA website. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.