By Dan Walsh
The ancient steps that link Castle Hill with Church Street opposite Enniscorthy Castle has been renamed Wilkie Way (Wilkie Slí as Gaeilge) and was officially launched recently by Cllr John O’Rourke, Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council.
WexfordLocal.com has compiled the following information explaining who is Wilkie and what is the significance of his fame and contribution that merits a section of street steps named in his honour.
BIOGRAPHY; SAM ‘Wilkie’ THORPE (1909-2005); Sam Thorpe was one of seven children born to Annie (née Ryan) and Michael Thorpe of The Shannon, Enniscorthy.
He married Mary Donnelly of Ross Road and they had one son who sadly died in infancy, Michael.
Sam served as a gunner in the 3rd Battalion with the Irish army on Spike Island in Cork for seven years. He was always very proud of this achievement and in his later years was a member of ONE (Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel). Following his army career, Sam worked at Armstrong’s general merchants store in Enniscorthy, worked on the railway, and in his later years he travelled the roads working on a lorry for Davis’s Mill.
But it was through his sporting achievements that Sam’s name was most familiar. He played hurling and football for Wexford and Leinster in the early 1950s. Two weeks ago before his sad passing he was honoured for this sporting achievements at a GAA function held Ferrycarrig Hotel. He was also played soccer with Cork United during his years in the army.
In his sporting book, The Greatest Hurling Decade, the legendary historian Nicky Furlong paid tribute and wrote; “Wilkie Thorpe in fact never played for Wexford after the summer of 1953. This colourful crowd entertainer from Vinegar Hill had contributed his rich talents to both hurling and football at the highest inter-county and club level for twenty years.”
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