Robert Kennedy, the son of a County Down linen manufacturer, played hockey for the Banbridge club, one of the best-known hockey clubs in Ireland in the early part of the 20th century. He was in their side beaten 3-2 after extra time by Royal Hibernians in the final of the 1911 Irish Senior Cup.
Kennedy had won a silver medal with Ireland at the 1908 London Olympics and played in both of Ireland’s matches; the 3-1 win over Wales, and the 8-1 defeat by England in the final. Like several other members of that Irish squad, Kennedy later emigrated to Canada. He made the move in 1912 and spent the rest of his life in the Winnipeg area. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1915 and served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I.