Richard Rockett (born 1931) is an Irish former hurler. At club level, he played with Slieverue and at inter-county level with the Kilkenny senior hurling team.

Career

Born and raised in Slieverue, County Kilkenny, Rockett was educated at the De La Salle College in Waterford. He first played for Slieverue as a member of the junior team beaten by Bennettsbridge in 1948. Two years later, Rockett won a Kilkenny JHC medal, following a 4–06 to 5–02 win over Urlingford in the final. He added a Kilkenny SHC medal to his collection in 1957, after a 6–05 to 4–03 defeat of Tullaroan in the final. Rockett captained Slieverue to a defeat by John Locke's in the 1957 Kilkenny SHC final.

Rockett first played for Kilkenny as goalkeeper on the junior team that beat London to win the All-Ireland JHC title in October 1951. He progressed to the senior team and was reserve goalkeeper on the Leinster SHC-winning team in 1953. Rockett lined out at right corner-forward when Kilkenny beat Waterford by 4–10 to 3–12 in the 1957 All-Ireland SHC final. He continued to line out with Kilkenny until 1959, by which time he had also won three Leinster SHC medal.

Rockett's performances at inter-county level earned his inclusion on the Leinster inter-provincial team. He won a Railway Cup medal in March 1956, after a 5–11 to 1–07 win over Munster in the final.

Personal life

Following Jimmy Lynam's death in August 2026, Rockett became the oldest living All-Ireland medal winner.

Honours

Slieverue Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship (1): 1954 Kilkenny Junior Hurling Championship (1): 1950

Kilkenny All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (1): 1957 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (3): 1953, 1957, 1958 Oireachtas Cup (1): 1957 All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship (1): 1951 Leinster Junior Hurling Championship (1): 1951

Leinster Railway Cup (1): 1956

References