| Code: | Hurling |
| William "Billy" Mackesy | |
| Fullname: | William Mackesy |
| Occupation: | Publican |
| County: | Cork |
| Province: | Munster |
| Clpositionh: | Forward |
| Clpositionf: | Forward |
| Clubs: | Blackrock Lees |
| Clcountyh: | 6 |
| Clcountyf: | 7 |
| Counties: | Cork (H) Cork (F) |
| Icpositionh: | Forward |
| Icpositionf: | Forward |
| Icyears: | 1903–1912 1901–1912 |
| Icapps(Points): | 19 24 |
| Icprovincef: | 3 |
| Icprovinceh: | 3 |
| Icallirelandh: | 1 |
| Icallirelandf: | 1 |
| Birth Date: | 8 April 1880 |
| Birth Place: | Buttevant, County Cork, Ireland |
| Death Date: | 12 November 1956 (aged 76) |
| Death Place: | Cork, Ireland |
William Mackesy (8 April 1880 – 12 November 1956) was an Irish dual player of Gaelic games, a hurler and a footballer. At club level he played with Lees and Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior teams in both codes. Mackessy is one of only fifteen players to have won All-Ireland medals in both codes.[1]
Mackesy first came to prominence playing with Cork city-based clubs Blackrock and Lees. In a 12-year span from 1902 to 1914 he won a combined total of 13 County Championship medals across both codes including three hurling-football doubles. Mackesy first appeared on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork senior football team in 1901. His debut season with the Cork senior hurling team two years later ended with him claiming a winners' medal after a defeat of London in the All-Ireland final. Mackesy became Cork's first dual All-Ireland medal-winner in 1911 when he lined out with the Cork senior footballers in their All-Ireland final defeat of Antrim. After making 43 championship appearances he retired from inter-county duty in 1912, by which time Mackesy had also claimed six Munster Championship medals across both codes.[2] [3]
Mackesy was born in Buttevant, County Cork but began his business career after moving to Kinsale. He later worked as a draper in the Munster Arcade in Cork city before opening his first licensed premises in 1912. He opened a second on Oliver Plunkett Street six years later. Mackesy married Anne Glavin, who died during childbirth. The baby’s name was Aidan. He then married Eileen Sullivan and had 6 children.
Mackesy died at the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork on 12 November 1956. He had been in a ill health for a number of years with diabetes.[4]
1903, 1908, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913
1902, 1903, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1911, 1914
1903, 1905, 1912
1901, 1906, 1907 (c)
