Kathleen Mills

Infobox GAA player
code= Camogie
sport = Camogie


name = Kathleen Mills
irish =
fullname = Kathleen Mills-Hill
placeofbirth = Dublin
countryofbirth = Ireland
dob = 1923
dod = 1996
height =
nickname = Kay
county = Dublin
province = Leinster
club = GSR GAA
clposition = Left wing
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Dublin
icposition = Left wing
icyears = 1941-1961
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 18
icallireland = 15
allstars =
clupdate =
icupdate =

(Kathleen) "Kay" Mills-Hill (1923-1996) was an Irish sportsperson who played senior camogie with Dublin from 1941 until 1961. She is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time.

Early & private life

Kathleen Mills was born in Dublin in 1923 of a Dublin mother and a Cork father. When she was just eighteen months old her mother died, leaving her to be raised by her maternal grandmother. From a young age Mills showed a great interest in a wide range of sport. She played table tennis and soccer as well as doing gymnastics, however, camogie was her first love in terms of sport. In 1947 Mills married George Hill.

Playing career

Mills made her camogie debut with the Great Southern Railways club in Dublin in 1938. Three years later in 1941 she found favour with the Dublin inter-county camogie selectors and she played in her very first All-Ireland final. On that occasion Cork were successful. In 1942 Mills found herself playing in another All-Ireland final, however, this time she ended up on the winning side and duly claimed her first All-Ireland medal after a replay against Cork.

In 1943 the same counties met in the All-Ireland final for the third year in-a-row. Once again Mills ended up claiming an All-Ireland medal. The following year, 1944, brought a third All-Ireland medal. In 1945 and 1946 a dispute in the camogie association kept Dublin out of the All-Ireland championship in spite of being Leinster champions in both years. In 1948 Dublin were back on form and Mills captured a fourth All-Ireland medal. She took no part in the 1949 championship, however, the 1950s would bring much success to Mills.

Between 1950 and 1955 inclusive Mills captured six All-Ireland titles in-a-row. In 1956 “the Dubs” surrendered their crown to Anrtim, however, it was quickly reclaimed in 1957. In 1958 Mills was appointed captain of the Dublin camogie team. Led by her, Dublin defeated Tipperary to capture yet another All-Ireland title. The success didn’t end there as she captured three more All-Ireland medals in 1959, 1960 and 1961. The occasion of the 1961 final was special as it was Mills’s 38th birthday and her last outing in a Dublin jersey.

Retirement

In her playing days Mills was regarded as one of the all-time greats. In retirement this opinion of her grew. As camogie’s first superstar she has often been described as the Christy Ring, Mick Mackey, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher of the camogie world. With a record haul of 15 senior All-Ireland medals Mills is the most decorated player in the history of Gaelic games.

Kathleen Mills died in August 1996.

References

* Brendan Fullam, "Captains of the Ash", (Wolfhound Press, 2002).