Athletics

BIOGRAPHY Michael 'Sonny' Murphy competed in the men's 3000 metres steeplechase at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games in only the third steeplechase of his career, having announced himself on the international stage with a surprise victory at the Olympic trials that earned his place on the team. From Kilnaboy, County Clare, Murphy was introduced [...]

BIOGRAPHY Eamonn Fitzgerald was one of the outstanding athletes of the early 1930s, a dual All-Ireland senior football medallist with Kerry who turned to athletics to compete at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, finishing fourth in the men's triple jump with a personal best of 15.01 metres (49'3") - a remarkable achievement delivered through

BIOGRAPHY Claire Walsh was one of the true pioneers of women's athletics in Ireland, the first woman resident in the Republic of Ireland to qualify for a European final when she finished 6th in the 800 metres at the European Championships in Helsinki in 1971, and competed in the women's 800 metres at the 1972

BIOGRAPHY OTHER ATHLETICS OLYMPIANSSEE ALL ATHLETES Adrian O’DwyerAilish SmythAlex WrightAlistair CraggAndrew CoscoranAndy RonanAnn Keenan-BuckleyAoife CookeAva HutchinsonBarbara JohnsonBasil CliffordBertie MessittBob TisdallBreda Dennehy-WillisBrendan BoyceBrendan O’ReillyBrendan QuinnBrendan ReillyBrian FayCaitríona JenningsCarey MayCarlos O’ConnellCaroline O’SheaCathal DoyleCatherina McKiernanCatriona CuddihyCharles ReidyChris O’DonnellCiara EverardCiara MageeanCiarán Ó LionáirdCillin GreeneClaire BerginCliodhna ManningColin GriffinConor McCulloughCormac FinnertyDavid GillickDavid KennyDavid MatthewsDeclan HegartyDeirdre GallagherDeirdre RyanDerval O’RourkeDick HooperDonal McCarthyEamonn CoghlanEamonn

BIOGRAPHY John Alex “Lexie” Tynan was an Irish athlete and rugby player. While at Belvedere College in Dublin, Tynan played rugby union for Old Belvedere. He was part of the team that won back-to-back Leinster Senior Cups in 1951 and 1952. Tynan also played for Leinster and had a trial for the Ireland national rugby

BIOGRAPHY OTHER ATHLETICS OLYMPIANSSEE ALL ATHLETES Adrian O’DwyerAilish SmythAlex WrightAlistair CraggAndrew CoscoranAndy RonanAnn Keenan-BuckleyAoife CookeAva HutchinsonBarbara JohnsonBasil CliffordBertie MessittBob TisdallBreda Dennehy-WillisBrendan BoyceBrendan O’ReillyBrendan QuinnBrendan ReillyBrian FayCaitríona JenningsCarey MayCarlos O’ConnellCaroline O’SheaCathal DoyleCatherina McKiernanCatriona CuddihyChris O’DonnellCiara EverardCiara MageeanCiarán Ó LionáirdCillin GreeneClaire BerginCliodhna ManningColin GriffinConor McCulloughCormac FinnertyDavid GillickDavid KennyDavid MatthewsDeclan HegartyDeirdre GallagherDeirdre RyanDerval O’RourkeDick HooperDonal McCarthyEamonn CoghlanEamonn KinsellaEddie

BIOGRAPHY Brendan O'Reilly was selected for the Irish team for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games in the high jump but was unable to travel when his club Donore Harriers was unable to raise the required funds - one of the most poignant stories in Irish Olympic history. O'Reilly, who was based at the University of

BIOGRAPHY Joe West competed in the men's marathon at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, displaying exceptional courage and determination in completing the course in 49th place (2:56:22.8) despite severe cramping over the final ten miles - receiving roadside massage treatment on multiple occasions, refusing the ambulance that was summoned to assist him, and returning to

BIOGRAPHY Maeve Kyle made history at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games as Ireland's first female track and field Olympic competitor - and went on to compete at the Rome 1960 and Tokyo 1964 Games, becoming the first Irish woman to compete at three Olympic Games. At Melbourne, she overcame an extraordinary administrative obstacle on the

BIOGRAPHY Eamonn Kinsella was a finalist in the 110 metres hurdles at the 1954 European Athletics Championships in Berne - one of the finest results by an Irish track and field athlete in the 1950s. He competed in the 110 metres hurdles at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, finishing 4th in his heat and missing

BIOGRAPHY Frank O'Reilly made history on 7 September 1960 when he became Ireland's first competitor in Olympic race walking, finishing 20th in the 50 kilometres walk at the Rome Olympic Games in 4:54:40. A Dubliner who emigrated to Birmingham in 1951 where he worked as a foundry worker alongside a furnace, O'Reilly became a specialist