Ciarán Carey: There is still room for Limerick history to be made

Carey confident Limerick can climb summit again in 2027.

Keith Earls and Ciarán Carey at the launch of Legends 4 Milford

When John Kiely was asked which of Limerick’s 1990s hurlers would fit in with the current brigade, he answered without hesitation, “Ciarán Carey”. 

The swashbuckling, versatile maverick is often cited as one of the greats to have never collected ultimate honours. While his career still had glittering high points, including three All-Stars and a brace of Munster Championship successes, Carey was consumed by addiction to alcohol during and after his time in the green of Limerick.

But now, operating out of Eastway Business Park on the outskirts of the Limerick City, Carey operates Ciarán Carey Counselling Services, which includes somewhat unique outpatient treatment for those struggling with addiction. His team appear busier than ever So, when you sit down with him and he is gobbling down chicken and MiWadi at the 19th hole in Ballyneety, it seems as though hurling is very much secondary. However, after a brief chat about his grandchildren and his new place of operation, and just how busy it all is, hurling chat flows quickly.

Each Friday, Carey is committed to offering an aftercare group his expertise, a vital part of the recovery journey. That makes it uncertain as to when the former Patrickswell, Kerry and Limerick U21 boss will be seen on the sideline next. But, despite his relative detachment from the game that used to define him, the Patrickswell man is still very quick to offer his opinion.

So, did he see the return of such riches, a clean sweep in fact, to Shannonside in 2026?

“My mindset hasn't changed in the last four or five years. I've been pretty, pretty, consistent in relation to where the current Limerick team are,” began Carey.

“So, was I worried this year? No. Did I see they had the ability to go all the way? 110%. The difficulty I saw was getting there (to the All-Ireland final). They were going to hit a few little obstacles in getting there and there was one or two – with the Clare and the Cork games – but I was confident once they got there that they were going to finish the job. 

"It's very rare you see an All-Ireland team that gets to the final and when you look at the starting 15 and you can say 13 came to the party for the full hour and ten minutes. And once a county team does that, then there's no stopping them.” 

So what set this current crop apart from his own vintage, the nearly-men who reached two big shows but didn’t quite dance to the beat required.

“What sets them apart? It's pretty obvious, I suppose. They're in a very good habit of winning, number one, and number two, there’s a serious soul to the squad, a serious spirit to the squad. They are at an outstanding age.

“They say, ‘Save hay while the sun shines’, I think they are aware of that. It is only a matter of time before things slow down a touch."

Given their climb back to the top, speculation continues about who might exit on a high or continue for another silverware hunt into 2027.

“I think the atmosphere is there, I put it down to the soul of the squad, from Declan Hannon and now Cian (Lynch). And there is a lot of talk at the moment, will John Kiely stay, will one or two players walk away, there’s a lot of people taking about it. But I think when now dust settles and everybody takes stock, everybody stays on.

“There is too much history that has been made, there is too much history that is presently being made, and there is still room for history to be made, so why change it?” 

Back in 2020, when Limerick were beginning their attack on a second All-Ireland under Kiely, Carey predicted the county could emulate what Dublin had done in football. And, while a five-in-a-row dream crashed in 2024, the former selector had been long adamant that a rich bounty was coming back to the Treaty County.

“You could see it coming, you could see it brewing and the players that were coming. A good scout will spot that, and if you have your finger on the pulse when it comes to the GAA, you can see it coming. That’s what I was calling, and that is what I have consistently called during their journey. I haven’t seen a whole pile to change my opinion in 2027. It is getting to those finals is where it will be difficult.” 

In his time working underneath Cork’s Donal O’Grady, a huge decision was made regarding who would be the next Limerick goalkeeper. Speaking to Sporting Limerick’s Treaty Talk Podcast in July, Nickie Quaid explained that Carey had pushed for that move.

“It was Ciarán that wanted to give me that chance (in goals) and that I could develop there”, explained the Effin clubman.

A player in a half-back line often during his own days, Carey remembers a tough chat with Quaid about his chances of playing in that defensive line.

“I remember it well! I was involved with Limerick (as a selector) at the time. Nickie was anxious to play out the field, and if anybody knows Nickie, he is a gentleman. He was bulling to play out the field. We played him outfield in a few challenge matches. I remember having a chat with him, saying ‘I have good time for you, I have good time for your dad, I played with him, but I can’t guarantee you’ll have number five on your back, but I can guarantee you’ll have one on your back. I took that like a man – no throwing out the dodo – the rest is history.” 

In February 2011, Quaid kept a clean sheet in a National League opener against Clare, his first competitive game as number one. Six All-Irelands and eight Munster titles later, it’s clear Quaid can be happy with the input from Carey.

The keeper is one of a quintet of players cited by the 56-year-old as central to the riches secured in the last nine seasons.

“We all know that the squad has done, the management has done. In the last few years selectors have left, Caroline Currid left, Caroline came back, and there were a few tweaks. But the machine was ticking over all the time. But I think five players deserve mention over that time. Nickie Quaid, Kyle Hayes, Diarmaid Byrnes, Cian Lynch and Gearóid Hegarty. Those five players, the like of which we haven’t seen in the past, so the five of them have been absolutely awesome”.

Carey will line up alongside Donal O’Grady, Declan Hannon and other Limerick stars, past and present, as they face off against Munster Rugby legends past and present, on Friday August 21, in aid of Milford Hospice.