Des O'Grady
Irish Gaelic footballer and county councillor (1952–2025)
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James Desmond O'Grady (1952 – 8 January 2025) was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played as a left wing-back at senior level for the Cork county team.[1]
 O'Grady in 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Native name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Dessie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 1952 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | (aged 72) Wilton, Cork, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupations | Teacher, county councillor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Gaelic football | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Left wing-back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 20:23, 18 July 2014. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career
Born in Togher, Cork, O'Grady first played competitive football during his youth. He made his senior debut during the 1977 championship. O'Grady was a regular member of the team for just one season. He was a Munster runner-up on one occasion.
At club level O'Grady is a one-time All-Ireland medallist with St Finbarr's. In addition to this he also won two Munster medals and three championship medals.[2]
His brother, Dónal, was an All-Ireland medallist as a player and as a manager with the Cork senior hurling team.
Political career
In 2014, O'Grady was elected to Cork County Council (Blarney–Macroom area) as a Sinn Féin party member.[3]
Death
O'Grady died at Cork University Hospital on 8 January 2025, at the age of 72.[4][5][6]