Margaret O'Leary

Margaret O'Leary

Personal information
Irish name	Mairéad Ní Laoire
Sport	Camogie
Position	centre-back
Born	Monamolin County Wexford, Ireland
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County
1966-1977	Wexford
Inter-county titles
All-Irelands	3
All Stars	2004 Team of Century

Margaret O'Leary-Leacy is an Irish former camogie player selected on the camogie team of the century in 2004, and winner of All Ireland medals in 1968, 1969 and 1975.[1]

Playing career

She played for Buffers Alley Club with whom she won three All Ireland Club Championships. She also holds eight Gael Linn interprovincial medals. She was selected as the Gaelic Weekly All Star Camogie Player of the Year in 1968 and was twice voted Wexford Powers "Sport Star of the Year" 1966 and 1968.

Administrator

She later became chair of the Oulart the Ballagh club where she trained five Féile na Gael teams to All Ireland success.^[citation needed]

Team of the Century

O'Leary-Leacy's team of the century citation read "a player of remarkable all round ability, she was equally at home at midfield or in the backs. A powerful striker, she was capable of turning defence into attack with one puck of the sliotar. Highly motivated, determined and full of energy she inspired her team-mates".[2]

She was also inducted into the Gaelic Writers' Association Hall of Fame in 2022.[3]

Family

Her daughters Mary and Una later played for Wexford.[4]

References

1. Moran, Mary (2011). A Game of Our Own: The History of Camogie. Dublin, Ireland: Cumann Camógaíochta. p. 460.
2. Camogie.ie Team of the Century profiles by Mary Moran
3. "Former Wexford camogie great Margaret Leacy in hall of fame". Independent. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
4. Irish Independent Sept 10 2010: Camogie blueblood Una Leacy is looking to lead Wexford’s All-Ireland assault from the front