Rackard family buy back ’55 All-Ireland medal

The family of Wexford hurling legend Nicky Rackard have forked out €17,500 to reclaim his 1955 All-Ireland medal.

The nine-carat gold medal, the first of two that Rackard won during his 17-year inter-county career, went under the hammer at Fonsie Mealy’s rare books and collectors sale on Tuesday with an estimate of €5,000-€7,000. It was the first and only medal to come on the market from a player named on the hurling team of the millennium.

“Nicky had been known for giving away his medals as gifts,” explained George Mealy of Fonsie Mealy auctioneers.