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A Legendary Lily White – Jack Higgins of Naas
by Matthew Hussey
Format: Hardback
Publication date: 15th December 2011
ISBN: 978-1-908477-61-3
Price: €20.00
Jack Higgins (1903-1955) of Naas and Kildare was one of the greatest Gaelic footballers during the first half of the history of the GAA. He helped mightily to develop a new, exciting, and even balletic, style that attracted countless thousands of supporters and players to Gaelic football and helped transform it into the most popular field sport in Ireland. He led a galaxy of stars in the Naas and the Kildare county teams through their golden period of greatest success. As a centre half-back on Naas, Kildare, Leinster, Army and Ireland teams he was indomitable for over a decade. Throughout his career his play was remarkable for the highest integrity, fairness, generosity and sporting standard. He later brought the same attributes to his work as an administrator at club, county, provincial and national levels in the GAA. His inspiring example should not be forgotten.
Bhí Seán Ó hUiginn (1903-1955) ón Nás i gCill Dara ar duine de na peileadóirí Gaelacha ab fhearr sa chéad leath de stair an ChLG. Chabhraigh sé go mór chun stíl nua a fhorbairt, stíl a bhí corraitheach, fiú bailéach, a mheall na mílte do-áirithe tacaitheoirí agus imreoirí don pheil Ghaelach agus a chabhraigh len í a athrú chun an spórt páirce is coitianta in Éirinn. Bhí sé i gceannas ar réaltra réaltaí i bhfoirne an Nás agus Co. Chill Dara le linn na tréimhse órga ba rathúla dá raibh riamh acu. Mar leathchúlaí láir ar fhoirne an Nás, Cill Dara, Laighean, an Airm agus na hÉireann, bhí sé dochloíte ar feadh níos mó ná deich mbliain. Le linn a ghníomhréime ba suntasach a imirt as an ionrachas is airde, agus as an gcaighdeán is airde cothroime, mórchroí agus cothrom na féinne. Ina dhiaidh sin thóg sé na cáilíochtaí céanna dá obair mar riarthóir sa chlub, sa chontae, sa chúige agus ar an leibhéal náisiúnta sa ChLG. Níorbh ceart dearmad a dhéanamh ar a eiseamláir spreagúil.
About the author:
Matthew Hussey’s mother was Bridget Higgins from Naas and he is originally from Cahir, Co Tipperary; played juvenile and minor football and hurling and minor football for Tipperary; later played minor handball for Dublin and helped win the first intervarsity handball championship with UCD; returned from exile in Philadelphia and Glasgow to work in Dublin Institute of Technology from 1975; produced many research papers and books, mostly on scientific topics, but including, in 2009, the GAA MacNamee award-winning MEMORIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS: 124 YEARS OF THE GAA IN CAHIR Cuimhní agus Éachtaí: 124 Bliain den ChLG sa Chathair which he assisted the great Tipperary footballer, Colm O’Flaherty, to compile.
Preface
by Gus Fitzpatrick
When the definitive history of Gaelic games is finally written the name of one Kildare man is certain to keep recurring.
That man is the late Jack Higgins.
Jack was a husband, father and devoted family man. He had great pride in his home town of Naas. He was loyal to a fault to his friends and family.
Honesty, loyalty and common courtesy were his watchwords.
He was a legendary figure in Gaelic football in Ireland and recognised as a god in Kildare. He won seven Leinster medals and two All-Irelands with Kildare.
I feel I am echoing my late father who said of Jack that the quality of his that stood out was leadership. ‘We all looked up to Jack, even the older guys. As a sportsman he had few equals. Win or lose he was the same Jack.’
Jack was recognised as an awesome opponent. He was fearless on the field of play, tough and fair. He took far too many hard knocks, not all within the rules, and it could be said that he gave his life for football.
Some years ago I was driving out of Croke Park after a memorable All-Ireland football final. I was taking the late Jack Barrett of Kinsale, former Cork county board chairman (1966-71), to Heuston station to catch the train home to Cork. I posed the question, ‘Jack, who was the all-round best footballer that you have ever seen?’ Without hesitation he answered, ‘Jack Higgins of Kildare!’
Jack Higgins was a tireless worker for Naas GAA club. He served as chairman of the club for many years. I remember with great pride, the summer evening in the early fifties when some 40 of us boys climbed into the back of Jack’s lorry, the only means of getting there, and set forth to play Caragh in an under-age match. A small example of Jack’s total committment to Naas GAA.
Matt Hussey is to be commended on coming up with the idea of compiling and writing this work on Jack. The amount of time and diligence which Matt put into this was enormous. This book fills a major void in Naas and Kildare GAA history and whilst the period covered is nearly 100 years ago, it will be of interest to all GAA followers.
The people of Naas and Kildare owe a debt of gratitude to Matt Hussey for a mission well accomplished.
Thanks Matt.
Gus Fitzpatrick,
6 Deireadh Fómhair 2011
