What did Mick Mackey say to Christy Ring? New solution to 70-year-old Munster hurling mystery

A 1957 Munster hurling semi-final was the setting for one of the iconic pictures not just of hurling, but of Irish sport

Christy Ring (right) shows his disapproval of umpire Mick Mackey (centre) allowing a Tipperary goal in the 1957 Munster hurling semi-final between Cork and Tipperary. Picture: Justin Nelson

A new solution to a puzzle which has perplexed hurling fans for almost 70 years has emerged this week in the lead-up to the Munster hurling final.

The controversy has centred on two of the hurling greats, Christy Ring of Cork, and Limerick's Mick Mackey. Christy Ring was on the Cork team playing Tipperary in the 1957 Munster semi-final in Limerick when he received a serious hand injury, which ended his game.

As Christy walked off the field with his right arm in a sling, he passed by where Mick Mackey was one of the umpires, wearing a white coat.

Justin Nelson, who later went on to be the senior director of television sports in RTÉ, was then a sports photographer working for the Clonmel Nationalist and the daily newspapers, including The Cork Examiner.

As Christy walked by Mick, a verbal spat developed between the two. Mr Nelson captured the moment in what was to become one of the iconic pictures not just of hurling, but of Irish sport.

The following day, all the daily papers carried Justin's picture with the heading: "What did Mackey say to Ring?"

The photo was even considered by An Post for a commemorative stamp, and it featured on the covers of the commemorative supplements produced by the Irish Examiner to mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of the GAA.

Finian Gaule's answer

Now, Limerick accountant Finian Gaule, who practices in Limerick and Clonmel, has carried out new research to try to solve the mystery of the verbal exchange.

He said: "I learned that a copy of the book was in the public library in Clonmel. On going there, the staff were most helpful, and as it is a rare book, it is kept locked away in a safe. Nobody can take it away, and I was allowed access to it in the library after one of the librarians located it in the locked safe. 

"In one passage of the book, Justin Nelson wrote: 'During the 1970s and 80s, in particular, when my name credit was shown at the end of most of RTÉ's coverage of major sports events such as All-Ireland finals, more sports fans would know my name from having taken the photo of the country's most famous hurling stars than for anything else'."

Over the years, Justin was time and again quizzed on what Mackey said to Ring. But like a true professional, Mr Nelson was fully focused on capturing that moment. 

And it yielded one of the great sports photos of hurling taken off the field with not a hurley or sliotar in sight. He consequently does not recall in his book what he heard. He got the picture of a lifetime.

But Finian Gaule feels he has come up with an answer regarding what Mick Mackey said, which he says fits the Ring/Mackey narrative on that day.

He said: "I have spoken to lots of GAA people and I came across one source who would have a big connection with people close to both Mick Mackey and Christy Ring. 

I am told there was no love lost between the two, and Mick Mackey did not like Christy Ring's style of hurling, to put it mildly. 

"As Christy walked by the back of the goal area, Mick, with a smile on his face, remarked: 'You got what was coming to you'. If you study the body language of the two at that moment captured in Justin Nelson's great photograph, that comment fits, and I think it's the best solution with regards to the debate which has gone on for decades on what Mick said to Christy."

Cork, with Christy Ring off injured, went on to defeat Tipp. However, with Christy still out with a broken wrist, they were beaten in the Munster final.

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Leinster-born Justin Nelson moved from Clonmel to live in Dublin after he joined RTÉ as senior TV sports director. His interest in photography grew from childhood in Leitrim after his aunt Bridie bought him his first camera.

Justin Nelson passed away in Dublin in 2018, survived by his wife and three daughters.