Noel Mary Joseph Purcell (15 November 1891 – 31 January 1962) was an Irish water polo player who represented both Great Britain and Ireland at the 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics respectively.

In 2012 his collection of medals and international caps were donated to Belvedere College by his daughter Rosemary and son Noel.

He was the son of Daniel Purcell, a solicitor who was originally from Limerick, and Mary Clara Hoey who was from Dublin.

In a 1921 Leinster Senior League game against Pembroke, Purcell scored all four goals for Dublin University in a 4–2 win.

[5][8] At the 1920 Summer Olympics, Purcell was a member of the Great Britain team that won the gold medal.

However, in a final trial game, England were beaten 6–0 by a Rest of Great Britain team featuring Purcell.

Although representing Great Britain, pictures from the Olympics, show Purcell wearing a swimming costume with a shamrock and the word "Ireland" on it.

In the Olympic final, Great Britain beat Belgium 3–2 to win the gold medal.

A match report in The Times noted "NM Purcell from Ireland refereed casually and from a great distance."