The GAA lost another great nickname this week as Dublin's 'Dotsy' O' Callaghan announced his retirement. As we lamented this pseudonym, Sunday Times journalist and author Michael Foley chimed in with a few others:
Hurling the place to find the great 21st century nicknames. Bonner. Brick. Fraggy. Sockie. Gizzy. Telly. Hero. And so on...
— Michael Foley (@MickFoley76) November 6, 2017
But how does this golden age of hurling nicknames compare to some of the greatest from other eras? Let's sketch out the pantheon.
Seanie 'Jelly' Johnston
Arguably the most famous nickname in Kildare hurling.
Seanie 'Telly' Tobin
A Munster Champion with Limerick in 2013 always worth watching. (Sorry). Apparently, the name comes from the fact TellyTobin sounds a bit like TellyTubby.
Eugene 'Nudie' Hughes
Nudie won three Ulster titles with Monaghan between 1979 and 1991 as well as the National League in 1985. A legitimate contender for the Greatest Nickname in GAA History to add to that haul.
Terence 'Sambo' McNaughton
Antrim legend Sambo McNaughton won a host of Ulster titles in the 80s and 90s, was part of the side that humbled Offaly in the 1989 All-Ireland semi-final and won an All-Star in 1991 after Antrim were only foiled by a last-minute Kilkenny goal in the semis. Among a few on this list to have Christian name entirely discounted once television coverage expanded.
Michael 'Brick' Walsh
Similarly to Sambo, known almost solely as 'Brick' up to this year, with Marty Morrissey's commentary on Waterford games leading to a few puzzled looks between viewers, wondering 'Who is Michael Walsh? And why's Brick not playing?'
Ger 'The Sparrow' O'Loughlin
Mike Quirke leaned on Game of Thrones and christened Joe Brolly the GAA's 'High Sparrow' in a recent Examiner column, but the original claim to the latter half of that name belongs to a two-time All-Ireland champion from Clare.
Michael 'Babs' Keating
Illness and fatigue reportedly led to Babs' departure from Offaly, as the players were sick and tired of him. No such reservations exist about his nickname.
Michael 'Hopper' McGrath
Two-time All-Ireland winner with Galway in '87 and '88, but hopped to the sideline in '89 as he was sent off in an ill-tempered final against Tipp. Perhaps not even the best nickname in his family, mind...
Joe 'Jackson' McGrath
Hopper's brother. Is it good enough to see him steppin' out of his brother's shadow?
Padraig 'Dandy' Kelly
We're not sure if this came from his preferred choice of comic as a kid, but once he grew up, he won five Connacht titles with Galway across the 1980s.
Anthony 'Fat Larry' Finnerty
Quite where this came from we're not sure, most infamous for kicking off the '96 brawl against Meath.
Shane 'Cake' Curran
Ran for the Dáil and decided against using Let Them Seat Cake as a campaign slogan.
Anton 'Blue Panther' O'Toole
A wing-forward for Heffo's Dubs, and perhaps the best nickname in Dublin football history. Dermo doesn't cut the mustard in this respect.
PJ 'Fingers' O Connell
A Clare hurler under Loughnane with a nickname whose provenance our lawyers have advised us not to speculate on.
Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett
The former Laois hurling manager suffered like Sambo and Brick: about 3% of the population actually knew his first name.
Paudie 'Pebbles' O'Sullivan
He was the younger version of The Rock, Diarmuid.
James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick
It may have been illegal a violation of BAI guidelines to mention this Kilkenny hurler without the preface of 'Cha'.
Tommy 'Tom' Carr
Okay, we're joking now.
