James Lucey (1941 – 16 February 1969) was an Irish Gaelic footballer. He played at club level with Glenbeigh-Glencar, Laune Rangers and Mid Kerry and at inter-county level with the Kerry senior football team.

Born in Caragh Lake, County Kerry, Lucey first played Gaelic football with Glenbeigh-Glencar. He won a County Championship title with divisional side Mid Kerry in 1967.^[1] After briefly appearing for the Kerry minor football team during the early rounds of the championship in 1958, Lucey was drafted onto the Kerry senior football team during a number of tournament games in early 1962. He ended the season with an All-Ireland Championship title after lining out at midfield in the final defeat of Roscommon. His brother, Noel Lucey, also lined out that day, while a third brother, Vincent Lucey, played in the 1965 All-Ireland final defeat by Galway.^[2] Lucey's inter-county career ended in 1966, by which stage he had also secured a National League title and several Munster Championship titles.

Lucey secured a place in the first Army Apprentice School class at Devoy Barracks in 1956. After a three-year apprenticeship he became a fitter and a mechanic in the Cavalry Corps. He served two terms with the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in the Congo and was one of 154 soldiers involved in the Siege of Jadotville.^[3]

Lucey died from Hodgkins disease at St Luke's Hospital in Rathgar on 16 February 1969.^[4] Aged 27, he was the first member of the 1962 All-Ireland-winning team to die.

Mid Kerry

• Kerry Senior Football Championship: 1967

Kerry

• All-Ireland Senior Football Championship: 1962
• Munster Senior Football Championship: 1962, 1963, 1965
• National Football League: 1962–63