Sam Thorpe
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| Native name | Somhairle Ó Torpaigh (Irish) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname | Wilkie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 3 March 1919 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 1 November 2005 (aged 86) Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Army officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Hurling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Right wing-back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Samuel Thorpe (3 March 1919 – 1 November 2005), known as Wilkie Thorpe, was an Irish Gaelic footballer and hurler. At club level, he played with Slaney Harriers, Starlights and St Aidan's Enniscorthy and at inter-county level was a dual player with Wexford.
Playing career
Thorpe played both Gaelic football and hurling with a range of different clubs. He won a Wexford MFC medal with Starlights before later lining out in various Army championships during the Emergency.[1] Thorpe later won consecutive Wexford SHC medals with St Aidan's Enniscorthy in 1946 and 1947, as well as claiming a Wexford JFC with Slaney Harriers in the latter year.[2] He ended his club career by winning further Wexford SHC medals with St Aidan's in 1952 and 1953.
Thorpe first appeared on the inter-county scene with Wexford as a member of the minor team beaten by Cavan in the 1937 All-Ireland MFC final.[3] He made his Wexford senior football team debut in a National League game against Dublin in May 1946. Thorpe joined the Wexford senior hurling team shortly after his. He won a Leinster SHC medal before losing to Tipperary in the 1951 All-Ireland SHC final.[4] Thorpe also lined out with Leinster in both codes.[5]
Death
Thorpe died on 1 November 2005, at the age of 86.[6]
Honours
- Slaney Harriers
- Wexford Junior Football Championship: 1947
- St Aidan's Enniscorthy
- Wexford Senior Hurling Championship: 1946, 1947, 1952, 1953
- Wexford
References
- ^ "Wilkie Way experience opens in Enniscorthy". Wexford Local. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Wexford optimistic for the hurling final". The Cork Examiner. 28 August 1951. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Nicholas was on '37 minor football team". Irish Independent. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Leinster Senior Hurling Finalists" (PDF). Leinster GAA website. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ^ "125 Greatest Wexford Hurlers". Irish Independent. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Enniscorthy mourns loss of great sportsman Sam 'Wilkie' Thorpe". Irish Independent. 10 November 2005. Retrieved 26 June 2025.