In the history of Croke Park, there is nobody who has been up the steps of the Hogan Stand as many times as Rena Buckley.
In her 14 year career, Buckley had an unprecedented run of success for Cork, both in football and Camogie. She has captained both teams to All-Ireland victories, amassing an insane 18 titles in all.
A key figure in Eamonn Ryan's legendary Cork dynasty in Ladies' football, she played a part in all 11 All-Ireland successes in just 12 years. In that time, Buckley picked up six football All-Stars in that period, and captained the team in 2012.
Last September, she captained Cork again, this time to a one point win over Kilkenny, picking to her seventh camogie title, and becoming to first woman to ever captain her county to both camogie and football All-Irelands.
Victory for Cork. They are the All-Ireland senior camogie champions #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/vFySHQndEG
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) September 10, 2017
The victory also made her the first Gaelic Games player in history to pick up 18 All-Ireland winning medals, surpassing her former dual teammate Briege Corkery. In her 14 year inter-county career, she also received an incredible ten All-Star awards.
In 2006, Buckley was also a key part of the Ireland squad in the, as yet only, Women's International Rules tour.
Now, at just 31, she has decided to call it a day and leave Cork while still at the top of her game. It was confirmed earlier in the year she wouldn't be part of the Cork football panel, but she was expected to continue with the All-Ireland champions camogie team.
Instead, she's decided 18 is enough and has called time on her inter-county career, telling Joe O'Shea of the Irish Independent:
Look, in every person's life, you only have a certain amount of time, there's limited hours you can give to what you want to do.
For a long number of years, I've given sport a huge chunk of my time. And I've arrived at the stage of my life now where I have other commitments, other things I want to do. And I have to make the choice.
It's not like I want to travel the world, or make massive changes in my life. But I want the chance to give more of my time to the people in my life.
Naturally the plaudits have been coming in for a legend of Irish sport.
👏👏 All of us @LadiesFootball would like to send best wishes to Cork's dual star Rena Buckley (@RenaBucks), who has confirmed her inter-county retirement.
🗞️ Rena confirmed the news in this piece with @IndoSport: https://t.co/Y7yKXnDZtY— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) May 21, 2018
There are not enough words to describe what Rena Buckley is to the GAA. The (many) accolades tell one half of the story, but her integrity, humility, drive & commitment tell the other. What an inspirational figure & a true legend of the game. #ThanksRena https://t.co/y5VsK4PN67
— Jacqui Hurley (@jacquihurley) May 21, 2018
An iconic figure and great athlete. Rena Buckley didn't just improve the teams she played in she improved the sports she played in. #rena https://t.co/alRYQTDzJE
— Oisin Langan (@oisinlangan) May 21, 2018
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18 All Irelands... EIGHTEEN! For gods sake when you think about what Rena Buckley has done in her career. #smh— Cormac O'Malley (@cormacpro) May 21, 2018
We will never see the likes again. 18 All-Ireland medals in both Camogie and Ladies Football. All the best to Rena Buckley in her retirement. 🏅 https://t.co/NXwNLi1SEH
— Ann Marie (@AnnMarieGuinan) May 21, 2018
Rena Buckley featured in a table quiz I helped organise on Saturday night. The question was how many All-Ireland senior county medals has she won. We should be naming GAA grounds after her the length and breadth of the county. (The answer as you know is 18)
— Paul O'Brien (@WestCorkPaul) May 21, 2018
What an absolute legend, the very best of luck in retirement, if Rena Buckley was a man she would have a bridge or a tunnel named after her..her contribution to Cork can not be understated..one of the greatest!
— Trevor o callaghan⭐⭐⭐🇮🇪🇾🇪🇵🇸 (@Trevorocallagh4) May 21, 2018
