Joseph Patrick Hennessy (born 17 January 1956) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a right wing-back for the Kilkenny senior team. Born in Kilkenny, Hennessy first played competitive hurling during his schooling at CBS Kilkenny. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Kilkenny minor team before later joining the under-21 side. He made his senior debut during the 1976 championship. Hennessy immediately became a regular member of the team and won three All-Ireland medals, six Leinster medals and two National Hurling League medals. He was an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions.