For several seasons before and after the Second World War, Kevin O’Flanagan was probably Ireland’s best-known international sports personality. Born in Dublin in 1919, he excelled at all sports. In his time he was reckoned to be the fastest sprinter in Ireland, capturing the national 60 yards, 100 yards and long jump titles and clearly would have been an Irish Olympic candidate but for the cancellation of the Olympic Games of 1940 and 1944.
His soccer career blossomed with Bohemians Football Club where he made his debut at age 16. At 18, while studying medicine at UCD, he made his international debut for Ireland against Norway in a World Cup qualifier at Dalymount Park. Playing at inside left, he scored a goal in a 3-3 draw in an all-Ireland team that also saw the first appearance for Ireland of the great Jackie Carey. Kevin won a total of four Irish soccer caps including the famous international against England of 1948 in which his brother Michael played at inside right. Tom Finney scored an 82nd minute goal to beat an Irish team that also included Con Martin, Paddy Coad and Tommy Eglington. The English team included such greats as Frank Swift, Billy Wright, Wilf Mannion, Tommy Lawton and Raich Carter.
In 1942 he was combining soccer with Bohemians and rugby with UCD when he was selected at wing threequarter on the Irish XV that played the British Army at Ravenhill. Four years later, in 1946, he played for Ireland against France at Lansdowne Road in an unofficial international and in 1947 won his official cap against the touring Australians, also at Lansdowne Road. His brother Michael was capped later that season against Scotland, making the O’Flanagans the only brothers to win international caps in both codes.
After graduation from UCD in 1945 he went to London to practice as a doctor and was immediately signed as an amateur by Arsenal. In the transitional post-war season of 1945/46 he scored 18 goals as a marauding winger for the famous London club. Due to pressures of his medical practice he had to end his Arsenal career in 1948 but he was persuaded to return to the English League to lend a helping hand to Brentford FC in the 1949/50 season.
Following his return to Ireland in the early ‘50s he continued to take a keen interest in all sports becoming a top golfer with Portmarnock and Milltown golf clubs and tennis player with Fitzwilliam LTC. By then he had begun a deep life-long involvement with Olympic sport as a result of his appointment as medical advisor to the British team at the London Olympics of 1948. He was appointed chief medical officer of the Irish Olympic team for the Olympic Games in Rome in 1960, followed by the Games of Tokyo, Mexico, Munich and Montreal, and was also a vice-president of the Olympic Council of Ireland for many years.
It was in Montreal in 1976 that he was appointed to the International Olympic Committee, becoming the third Irishman to be accorded this signal honour. He served on the IOC Medical Commission for 14 years and also on the Olympic Programme committee. He was made an honorary member of the IOC in 1995 on his retirement after 22 years service as Irelands representative.
His medical career was extensive and he operated his practice for many years from his Upper Fitzwilliam Street headquarters. He was honorary team physician to various sports clubs and associations in Ireland, was the member for Ireland on the sports medicine committee of the Council of Europe for six years and was President of the Irish Sports Medicine Association.
In 1968 he was appointed Chairman of the National Rehabilitation Board and was President of the World Congress for Rehabilitation held in Dublin in 1969. He also served as council member for the USA People for the Handicapped organisation.
Kevin was undoubtedly one of the legendary personalities of Irish sport and was a regular attendee at rugby and soccer internationals as well as Olympic events worldwide. His bon viveurship and bonhomie were legendary and he loved international travel, being a regular visitor to major golf tournaments in the USA and beyond.
Kevin was unmarried and is survived by his brothers Michael and Charlie, sister Trixie and extended family.
