Dublin Camogie loses legend in Betty ‘Gerry’ Hughes
By Stephen Leonard
DUBLIN Camogie lost a true legend with the sad passing of Betty ‘Gerry Hughes on Monday.
Gerry was an integral part of Dublin Camogie’s ‘Golden Era’ that stretched from the 1940s into the 1960s.
Betty 'Gerry' Hughes, surrounded by her family and with her nine All-Ireland medals and Hall of Fame Award at The Echo 2018 Sports Awards Night held in the Green Isle Hotel.
A natural defender who was born and reared in Inchicore, she played with CIE and made her inter-county debut for Dublin in 1954 when she won her first All-Ireland medal against Antrim.
She continued on to represent her county continuously from 1954 to 1963, winning no less than nine All-Ireland titles, captaining Dublin in 1961 and 1962.
As the winning captain in 1961, Gerry, in a wonderfully generous gesture, asked the great Kay Mills to accept the O’Duffy Cup as it was her last game playing for the county and one in which she had just won her record-breaking 15th All-Ireland medal.
Betty ‘Gerry’ Hughes (right) having just captained Dublin to the 1961 All-Ireland title asked Kay Mills to raise the O’Duffy Cup as the victory, that day, marked her 15th Senior All-Ireland.
Gerry, as an integral part of the Dublin 10-in-a-row team, was honoured with the presentation of The Echo Sports Hall of Fame Award at The Echo 2018 Sports Awards Gala Night at which she received an emotional standing ovation by near to 300 guests.
