Christy Ring in his own words: ‘I realised I was on an even par with my schoolboy hero when I was 20’

Christy Ring kisses the bishop’s ring before the start of the 1954 All-Ireland SHC final against Wexford at Croke Park. Picture: Irish Examiner Archive/Ref 857G

Jim Hayes grew up watching Christy Ring play before becoming a teacher in Scoil Barra, Beaumont in the mid-’70s.

He organised internal school hurling and football competitions and Christy Ring presented the trophies at the finals on June 26, 1975.