Willie John McBride Willie John McBride William James McBride, MBE, better known as Willie John McBride (born 6 June 1940) is a former rugby union footballer who played as a lock for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. He played 63 Tests for Ireland including eleven as captain, and toured with the Lions five times — a record that gave him 17 Lions Test caps. He also captained the most successful ever Lions side, which toured South Africa in 1974. McBride was born at Toomebridge, County Antrim. Owing to his father's death when he was five years old, he spent most of
Willie John O'Connell Willie John O'Connell Willie John O'Connell (1869-25 April 1897) was an Irish hurler who played as a quarter-back for the Cork senior team. O'Connell made his first appearance for the team during the 1893 championship and was a regular member of the team for the next three seasons. During that time he won two All-Ireland medals and two Munster medals. At club level O'Connell played with the St. Finbarr's club. O'Connell died following a freak accident in a trial game following a clash with teammate Denis Coughlan. He was the first member of the Gaelic Athletic Association to die on