Wexford hurling legend, Ned Wheeler, sadly passed away this morning, the three times All-Ireland winner is recognised as one of the county’s all time greats.

In the book ‘Giants of the Ash’ (pub. Wolfhound Press, 1991’ Ned gave a colourful description of the 1956 Wexford v Tipperary game to author Brendan Fullam;

“Tipperary leading at half-time by 15 points, and Nick Rackard was in very bad form, as we all were! In the dressing room he paced the floor and banged the hurley on the table, calling us a crowd of camogie players. His speech that day fired us to great heights, and we beat Tipperary by four points in what was to me a great game.”

Ned shares some of his memories from the ’56 League final and the ’55 All-Ireland- recorded on the 18^th of November 2015.

Ned himself is quoted as saying; “The game of hurling to me is the greatest field game in the world. No other game has the speed and thrills when it it is played with verve and dash.”

Ned left his native Rathdowney in Laois at the age of five, spent a decade in Slieverue, Co. Kilkenny, and in 1947, Ned settled in Wexford where his adopted county gained a new son who in the purple and gold would adorn the hurling scene and leave an everlasting imprint.

After his days on the playing field, Ned never relinquished his passion for the game of hurling and would entertain and enlighten anybody who cared to listen with anecdotes and memories from the halycon days of Wexford hurling. His colourful speech and the clarity of his tales made for fascinating sports talk.

He was a regular visitor to the gym and always maintained his fitness and he also enjoyed a game of golf and would take his infectious personality onto the greens and into the ‘19th’ afterwards!

Many claim that Ned’s most memorable game was the 1954 Railway Cup Final against Munster when he played at centre-back.

As a 16yo he won the 1948 Junior County final, played in 1949, with St Martin’s, against Oulart-The Ballagh, he moved from Piercestown to Fishers Row, in Wexford town, made 40 senior hurling championship appearances with Faythe Harriers between 1950-’65, scored 8-18 (42 points) and won championship medals in 1960 (when he was captain of Faythe Harriers), 1962 and 1965.

He won All-Ireland senior hurling championship medals with Wexford in 1955, 1956 and 1960. He has three Railway Cup medals with Leinster from 1954, 1956 and 1964.

He also won six Leinster championship medals and two National Hurling League medals.

Funeral Arrangements

Wheeler (Fishers Row, Wexford), June 7, 2019, Ned, beloved husband of Kathleen and loving father of Ann, Marie, Catherine, Ursula and the late Eamonn and Deirdre, brother of the late Liam; sadly missed by his family, sons-in-law Paul, Paul, Mick and the late Gerry, sister-in-law Jean, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. R. I. P. Reposing in Mulligans Funeral Home, The Faythe, Wexford on Sunday from 3pm until removal at 7pm to The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rowe Street. Funeral Mass on Monday at 12 noon. Cremation will take place privately. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu if desired to the Irish Cancer Society.