‘The aftermath of that All-Ireland triumph sent me on the road to an incurable disease’

BEFORE HE DIED, WEXFORD HURLING LEGEND NICKEY RACKARD WROTE A SERIES OF ARTICLES FOR THE SUNDAY PRESS, GIVING AN EXTRAORDINARY INSIGHT INTO HIS LIFE. IN THE FIRST OF A SERIES, WE REPRODUCE THE FASCINATING ARTICLES

EIGHT months before he died from throat cancer in St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin in April 1976, the unforgettable Wexford hurling legend Nickey Rackard wrote a series of searchingly honest articles in the former Sunday Press newspaper, giving a compelling insight into what made him the man he was and his prolonged and painful struggle with alcohol, the addiction that defeated the iconic All-Ireland champion in the midst of his jubilant triumphs on the pitch and how it caused serious damage to his life and his relationships.

It was 45 years ago, when such a public confession would not have been as commonplace as it is today.

Nickey Rackard courageously opened up in the newspaper articles about his highs and lows, the dreams and realities, giving an extraordinarily in-depth insight into his early experiences, family, career, his love of sport, his passion for winning and hatred of being second best and the steps he eventually took to rebuild his life and make amends

There was a huge public reaction at the time to the serialised pieces which were described as ‘ the year’s most moving story’.

Widely read and anticipated, they served as an autobiography of the man who was born in the house of Kelly the Boy from Killane, and whose name is still revered throughout Ireland decades on, with a statue erected and a GAA park re-named in his honour.

Nickey Rackard was five years sober at the time he wrote the four-weekly series and the memorable words: ‘I know that sober, life is better, the sky is bluer, the perspective sharper’.

He was seriously ill at the time, having been diagnosed with throat cancer, for which he was undergoing treatment, but he had been told that the prognosis was good and he was optimistic.

On the prospect of death, he wrote: ‘I hope it won’t be for quite a while yet, for since I became sober, I like living. Yet, when I am asked if I’m afraid to die, I can truthfully answer, I am not. Not since I became sober’.

Tragically, he passed away from his illness in April of the following year at the premature age of 53. His death was widely regretted, with thousands of mourners flocking to Bunclody, where he lived, to pay tribute to ‘this man of courage and fame’ as curate Fr. Jim Byrne described him before the Requiem Mass.

Nickey explained that he wrote the Sunday Press articles in the hope that telling people what he went through, might be able to help others to face up to the disease of alcoholism.

It was a final act of personal courage off the field by a giant of a sportsman who had shown fearlessness and leadership countless times on the pitch. A mythical figure for many, he laid bare his humanity for all to see.

His family, including his son Bobby and daughters Berna and Marion have now given permission for the re-publication of these articles, with the same wish in mind, that they might offer support and inspiration to others whose lives are affected by the illness.

‘These articles were written a very long time ago and in the intervening years, many words have been written about dad but this is his account, his voice and I hope that people will get a sense of who he was and the personal journey he was on at the time before he died,’ said his daughter Berna.