limerick and the olympic games
TRANSCRIPT
Limerick and the Limerick and the Olympic GamesOlympic Games
1896-19241896-1924
Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthy
The Long MapThe Long Map
Why the Limerick area?Why the Limerick area?
The Golden ValeThe Golden Vale Emigrants by choice rather than Emigrants by choice rather than
through starvationthrough starvation Sporting traditionsSporting traditions Sporting ecumenismSporting ecumenism No fear of breaking new groundNo fear of breaking new ground
Sporting LimerickSporting Limerick
““I was born in Limerick, Ireland on the 17th of March I was born in Limerick, Ireland on the 17th of March [1859]. St. Patrick and myself have that date all to [1859]. St. Patrick and myself have that date all to ourselves. I came to America when I was twenty years ourselves. I came to America when I was twenty years old, but my father and mother are still in the old old, but my father and mother are still in the old country. It might be well to say something about the country. It might be well to say something about the first athletic meet I ever pulled off.first athletic meet I ever pulled off.
“ “One Sunday morning myself and half a dozen One Sunday morning myself and half a dozen gossoons cut down a tree and planted it in a field a gossoons cut down a tree and planted it in a field a short distance away from the church. Then we stood at short distance away from the church. Then we stood at either side of the entrance with our caps in our hand either side of the entrance with our caps in our hand and when the people came out from Mass we took up a and when the people came out from Mass we took up a collection to buy prizes. That afternoon the field was collection to buy prizes. That afternoon the field was packed and everybody had a fine time. Athletic contests packed and everybody had a fine time. Athletic contests were the regular Sunday pastime after that.” were the regular Sunday pastime after that.”
Athens – The first modern Athens – The first modern Olympic Games 1896Olympic Games 1896
The first Olympic champion The first Olympic champion in 1896in 1896
JP Boland: first Irish JP Boland: first Irish champion 1896champion 1896
1900: Limerick’s first 1900: Limerick’s first Olympic medalsOlympic medals
Paris 16-17 JulyParis 16-17 July Pat Leahy (Creggane) won silver in Pat Leahy (Creggane) won silver in
the high jump with 1.78mthe high jump with 1.78m Leahy also won bronze in long jump Leahy also won bronze in long jump
with a leap of 6.71mwith a leap of 6.71m John Flanagan (Martinstown and John Flanagan (Martinstown and
USA) won hammer gold with a throw USA) won hammer gold with a throw of 51.01m, 4.75m better than anyone of 51.01m, 4.75m better than anyone else.else.
Pat Leahy of Creggane Pat Leahy of Creggane 19001900
John Flanagan – John Flanagan – Martinstown and USA: Martinstown and USA:
1900, 1904, 19081900, 1904, 1908
Flanagan’s birth certFlanagan’s birth cert
1904 and St Louis1904 and St Louis
Tom Kiely (Tipperary and Ireland) Tom Kiely (Tipperary and Ireland) won gold in the All Round won gold in the All Round ChampionshipChampionship
John James Daly (Galway) won silver John James Daly (Galway) won silver in 2,590M steeplechasein 2,590M steeplechase
Gaelic Football won by Chicago Gaelic Football won by Chicago FeniansFenians
Hurling won by St. Louis InnisfallsHurling won by St. Louis Innisfalls
For Tipperary and For Tipperary and Ireland 1904Ireland 1904
1904: Irish America to 1904: Irish America to the forethe fore
John Flanagan wins second hammer title John Flanagan wins second hammer title (51.23 m) and a second place in the 56lb (51.23 m) and a second place in the 56lb throw, 10.16m with Jim Mitchell from throw, 10.16m with Jim Mitchell from Emly third)Emly third)
Martin Sheridan (Bohola, Co. Mayo) wins Martin Sheridan (Bohola, Co. Mayo) wins first of nine Olympic medals in the discusfirst of nine Olympic medals in the discus
Irish American Athletic Club top US club – Irish American Athletic Club top US club – PJ Conway chairmanPJ Conway chairman
Head of US Olympic movement and St. Head of US Olympic movement and St. Louis organisers was James SullivanLouis organisers was James Sullivan
Very important in funding Irish revolutionVery important in funding Irish revolution
P.J. Conway – Irish P.J. Conway – Irish American Athletic ClubAmerican Athletic Club
The Irish American The Irish American connectionconnection
Irish American Athletic Irish American Athletic ClubClub
The Fenians and Irish The Fenians and Irish American athleticsAmerican athletics
1906 – Irish or British?1906 – Irish or British?
British Olympic Association founded late 1905British Olympic Association founded late 1905 Peter O’Connor (Waterford) wins gold in Peter O’Connor (Waterford) wins gold in
triple jump and silver in long jumptriple jump and silver in long jump Con Leahy (Creggane) wins gold in high jump Con Leahy (Creggane) wins gold in high jump
by 2.5cm and silver in triple jump behind by 2.5cm and silver in triple jump behind O’Connor, 13.98m to O’Connor’s 14.075mO’Connor, 13.98m to O’Connor’s 14.075m
Two gold and three silver for Martin Sheridan Two gold and three silver for Martin Sheridan (USA)(USA)
Billy Sherring (Canada) wins MarathonBilly Sherring (Canada) wins Marathon
1906: O’Connor and Daly1906: O’Connor and Daly
1906: Flags and emblems1906: Flags and emblems
Con Leahy of Creggane: Con Leahy of Creggane: guardian of the flagguardian of the flag
1908 Limerick Olympic 1908 Limerick Olympic winnerswinners
John Flanagan gold in the hammer, with John Flanagan gold in the hammer, with McGrath (Tipperary) and Walsh (Cork) McGrath (Tipperary) and Walsh (Cork) placedplaced
Tim Ahearne wins triple jump with 14.92mTim Ahearne wins triple jump with 14.92m Con Leahy joint second in high jumpCon Leahy joint second in high jump William Russell Lane-Joynt silver in team William Russell Lane-Joynt silver in team
‘running deer’ shooting‘running deer’ shooting
Plus Sheridan, Hayes, Horgan, Barrett, Plus Sheridan, Hayes, Horgan, Barrett, Kerr…Kerr…
Tim Ahearne of Athea, Tim Ahearne of Athea, triple jump champion in triple jump champion in
19081908
Tim Ahearne’s medal and Tim Ahearne’s medal and certificatecertificate
Irish hockey team 1908Irish hockey team 1908
1908 – Triumph of Irish 1908 – Triumph of Irish AmericaAmerica
Coach Tom Flanagan and Coach Tom Flanagan and Tom LongboatTom Longboat
Mike Murphy – USA Mike Murphy – USA Olympic trainerOlympic trainer
American-British hatred American-British hatred in 1908in 1908
William Lane-Joynt – one I William Lane-Joynt – one I missedmissed
Hammer one, two and three Hammer one, two and three – Flanagan, McGrath and – Flanagan, McGrath and
WalshWalsh
1912 Tradition 1912 Tradition ContinuesContinues
Matt McGrath (Nenagh) wins hammer by Matt McGrath (Nenagh) wins hammer by over six metresover six metres
Pat McDonald (Doonbeg and Time Square) Pat McDonald (Doonbeg and Time Square) wins gold in shot (15.34m) and silver in wins gold in shot (15.34m) and silver in two-handed shot (27.53mtwo-handed shot (27.53m
Kennedy McArthur (Antrim) wins Marathon Kennedy McArthur (Antrim) wins Marathon for South Africa – tallest winner everfor South Africa – tallest winner ever
Denis Carey (John Flanagan’s cousin) sixth Denis Carey (John Flanagan’s cousin) sixth in hammerin hammer
1912 – McArthur (Antrim 1912 – McArthur (Antrim and South Africa) wins and South Africa) wins Stockholm MarathonStockholm Marathon
Two very different Two very different characters: characters:
Frank Dinneen and Boss Frank Dinneen and Boss CrokerCroker
1920 Antwerp1920 Antwerp
Paddy Ryan (Pallasgreen) wins hammer Paddy Ryan (Pallasgreen) wins hammer with 52.875m and second to McDonald with 52.875m and second to McDonald in 56lb weightin 56lb weight
Silver for Pat Flynn (Bandon) in 3,000m Silver for Pat Flynn (Bandon) in 3,000m steeplechase and for Anton Hegarty steeplechase and for Anton Hegarty (Derry) in team cross country(Derry) in team cross country
Gold in polo for FW Barrett (Cork) and Gold in polo for FW Barrett (Cork) and in water polo for Noel Purcell (Dublin)in water polo for Noel Purcell (Dublin)
Paddy Ryan – Nicker & Paddy Ryan – Nicker & PallasgreenPallasgreen
Ryan and McDonaldRyan and McDonald
Dan Ahearn of Athea – no Dan Ahearn of Athea – no medal in 1920 but world medal in 1920 but world
record holder in triple jumprecord holder in triple jump
1920 – 24: Jack Kelly – 1920 – 24: Jack Kelly – three goldsthree golds
JJ Keane – Anglesborough JJ Keane – Anglesborough and IOCand IOC
Ireland’s Olympic Ireland’s Olympic CouncilCouncil
Founded in 1920 – Keane, Griffith and CollinsFounded in 1920 – Keane, Griffith and Collins ‘‘The formation of an Irish Olympic Council that is The formation of an Irish Olympic Council that is
completely and influentially representative of the Irish completely and influentially representative of the Irish nation… At the first meeting of the newly formed nation… At the first meeting of the newly formed Council the movement was discussed in all its aspects Council the movement was discussed in all its aspects and, while the difficulties were fully acknowledged, it and, while the difficulties were fully acknowledged, it was unanimously agreed that the time was opportune was unanimously agreed that the time was opportune and the necessity urgent for formulating Ireland’s and the necessity urgent for formulating Ireland’s right to participate as a distinct national entity in such right to participate as a distinct national entity in such world competitions as the Olympic Games...’world competitions as the Olympic Games...’ Limerick LeaderLimerick Leader, 23 August 1920. , 23 August 1920.
Battle for acceptance at Lausanne 1920-22 – Battle for acceptance at Lausanne 1920-22 – Keane Ireland’s first IOC MemberKeane Ireland’s first IOC Member
Keane and the IOCKeane and the IOC I have the honour of asking you again on behalf of I have the honour of asking you again on behalf of
Ireland, to be recognized in the coming Olympic Ireland, to be recognized in the coming Olympic Games, as an independent nation. After our Games, as an independent nation. After our meeting in Antwerp, you told us that the Irish meeting in Antwerp, you told us that the Irish demand would be recognized as soon as political demand would be recognized as soon as political autonomy had been granted…I have great autonomy had been granted…I have great pleasure in telling you that my country is now a pleasure in telling you that my country is now a ‘Free State’, and that it holds, on a common ‘Free State’, and that it holds, on a common footing, the same rights as an autonomous state in footing, the same rights as an autonomous state in the British Empire as Canada, Australia, south the British Empire as Canada, Australia, south Africa, etc. The condition laid down by your Africa, etc. The condition laid down by your committee as essential for acceptance of Ireland’s committee as essential for acceptance of Ireland’s application is thus complied with.application is thus complied with.
Letter from J.J. Keane on behalf of the Irish Letter from J.J. Keane on behalf of the Irish Olympic Council to de Coubertin 10 April 1922 Olympic Council to de Coubertin 10 April 1922 CorrespondenceCorrespondence JJ KeaneJJ Keane. .
Sophie Peirce – Women’s Sophie Peirce – Women’s Olympic pioneerOlympic pioneer
The Map does not lieThe Map does not lie
Thank you for your Thank you for your attentionattention
Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthyAllen StreetAllen StreetCappoquinCappoquin
Co. WaterfordCo. Waterford
[email protected]@gofree.indigo.ie087 6501042087 6501042