James Hatton (14 August 1934 – 28 February 2023) was an Irish Gaelic footballer, hurler and referee. He played at club level with Kilcoole and was a dual player with the Wicklow senior teams. Hatton also served as a referee at club and inter-county levels.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Séamus Mac Giolla Chatáin | ||
| Sport | Dual player | ||
| Football Position: | Left corner-forward | ||
| Hurling Position: | Left corner-forward | ||
| Born |
14 August 1934[1] Kilcoole, County Wicklow, Irish Free State | ||
| Died |
28 February 2023 (aged 88) Delgany, County Wicklow, Ireland | ||
| Occupation | Sales rep | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| Kilcoole | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Football | Hurling | ||
| Wicklow titles | 1 | 0 | |
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | ||
1955–1965 | Wicklow | ||
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Football | Hurling | ||
| Leinster Titles | 0 | 0 | |
| All-Ireland Titles | 0 | 0 | |
| League titles | 0 | 0 | |
Playing career edit
Hatton first played Gaelic football and hurling as a schoolboy with Kilcoole NS and Greystones CBS, winning a North Wicklow Juvenile League title in 1948. He later played at underage levels with Newtownmountkennedy and won a Wicklow U16FC title in 1950.[2]
Hatton later had a lengthy career at senior levels with the Kilcoole club. He won a Wicklow SFC title in 1954, while he also lined out in several Wicklow SHC finals.[3] Hatton also spent a decade as a dual player with Wicklow. He won an O'Byrne Cup title in 1957 and a Leinster JHC medal in 1964.
Post-playing career edit
Hatton began refereeing at club level in 1957.[4] He had the distinction of refereeing 11 All-Ireland finals at club and inter-county levels in both hurling and Gaelic football. These include eight All-Ireland finals at senior level, including both senior finals in 1966. Hatton also refereed the inaugural All-Ireland club final in 1971.[5]
Hatton also served in various administrative roles with the Kilcoole club. He was a team selector when Wicklow won the Leinster JFC title in 1969 and when the Wicklow senior hurlers won Division 2 of the National Hurling League in 1976.
Personal life and death edit
Hatton worked as a company rep for a clothing company. He married Rose Reilly in 1965 and the couple had four children; two boys and two girls. She predeceased Hatton in 2017.[6]
Honours edit
- Newtownmountkennedy
- Wicklow Under-16 Football Championship: 1950
- Kilcoole
- Wicklow Senior Football Championship: 1954
- West Wicklow Senior Football Championship: 1954
- Wicklow
References edit
- ^ "He's Got Medals". Greystones Guide website. June 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Jimmy Hatton and Jimmy Gammell". GAA website. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Remembering the men of '54". Wicklow People. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Wicklow's 'Knight of the Whistle'". Bray People. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Jimmy Hatton – referee, hurler, footballer, county selector (both codes)". Wicklow GAA website. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "The death has occurred of Rose Ann HATTON (née Reilly)". rip.ie. 21 October 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Legendary All-Ireland final referee Jimmy Hatton dies at 88". Irish Independent. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Death of legendary Wicklow referee Jimmy Hatton". Hogan Stand. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.