The death has taken place in Garden City, New York of Irish Olympian Cummin Clancy who hailed from Oughterard, Co. Galway. His funeral will take place in St. Joseph’s Church, Franklin Ave., Garden City on Wednesday next (Feb 20).
A member of An Garda Siochana, he was the Irish champion discus thrower many times and, in 1948, competed in the London Olympic Games. During these Games, age 26, he was approached by the legendary coach Jumbo Elliot and was offered a scholarship to the famous Villanova University. Other athletic stars who attended Villanova over the years include Jimmy Reardon, Ronnie Delany, Eamonn Coghlan and Sonia O’Sullivan.
Cummin subsequently stayed in the USA, raised a family and forged a very successful business career.
Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland said “On behalf of the Olympic Movement in Ireland, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to Cummin’s wife Maureen and the Clancy family on the passing of this Irish champion and Olympian.
“I had the great pleasure of meeting Maura, Sean and Kevin, members of Cummin’s family, at the reunion in Farmleigh, Dublin last year of members of the 1948 Irish Olympic team. Cummin will be sadly missed by all.”
