Tipperary’s John Doyle, Vincent O’Brien and Pat O’Callaghan feature in new book on Irish sport

Holycross Ballycahill’s John Doyle and long-time Tipperary residents Vincent O’Brien and

Pat O’Callaghan are among the sixty figures brought to life in the newly published

Irish Sporting Lives (Royal Irish Academy, 2022).

A new collection of biographical essays drawn from the Dictionary of Irish

Biography, Irish Sporting Lives spans 200 years of history and seeks to illustrate

the drama and diversity of the Irish sporting experience.

The book is edited by Dictionary of Irish Biography researchers Terry Clavin and Turlough O’Riordan,

and it also includes an introductory essay by Professor Paul Rouse of UCD. 

An eight-time All-Ireland winner with the Tipperary hurlers, John Doyle (1930–

2010) thrilled onlookers with his rampaging charges out of defence. He preferred

to go through rather than around opponents exposed himself to constant

punishment, which he bore contemptuously. Towards the end of his career, the

‘Holycross Hercules’ formed part of a full-back-line that became known as ‘Hell’s

Kitchen’ for its unscrupulous physicality. He was the hurler of the year for 1964

and voted left-corner-back for the hurling teams of the century and of the

millennium. Later in life he one terms in Seanad Eireann, acted as selector and

manager of the Tipperary hurling team, and represented Tipperary on the GAA’s

central council.

From his base at Coolmore, near Ballydoyle, legendary horse trainer Vincent

O’Brien (1917–2009) revolutionised the bloodstock industry. Having identified

the key bloodlines, he relied on the financial backing of the British tycoon Robert

Sangster to acquire some of the world’s finest colts.

He sent out a succession of champion racehorses from Coolmore, then syndicated them as stallions for

millions. By these means, he brought about a surge in world bloodstock prices

and brought Ireland to the pinnacle of thoroughbred breeding. He was

voted the greatest national hunt trainer of the twentieth century and the greatest

flat trainer of the twentieth century.

The first athlete to win a gold medal at the Olympic while representing Ireland,

Pat O’ Callaghan (1906–91) lived in Clonmel from 1931 until his death. He

won gold in the hammer throw at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics and again at the

1932 Los Angeles Olympics, and for many years held the unofficial world record

for the hammer throw.

An outstanding all-round athlete, he also won national titles in the discus, shot-put and high-jump, amongst others. Later, he managed Clonmel Commercials to three consecutive Tipperary county championship in

Gaelic football from 1965 to 1967 and became a freeman of Clonmel in 1984.

The biographies in Irish Sporting Lives encompass serial winners and glorious

losers, heroes and villains, role models and rogues, enduring legends and

forgotten or overlooked greats.

The main disciplines—Gaelic games, soccer, rugby, athletics, horse racing and boxing—are well represented, but so too are

minority sports such as croquet, cricket, tennis and hockey.

Others featured include:

Dave Gallaher (1873–1916), New Zealand’s most revered rugby captain, he led

the ‘Invincibles’ tour of Britain and Ireland in 1905–6 that established his country

as rugby’s superpower.

Lady Mary Heath (1896–1939), a pioneer of woman’s athletics, she moved

into aviation and became a media sensation with her high-flying publicity stunts.

Fay Taylour (1904–1983), a daredevil speedway racer, eventually banned from

competing against men in motorcycle races; she achieved notoriety for her

uncompromising support for Germany’s Nazi regime.

Dan Donnelly (1788–1820), this hard-living, bareknuckle brawler became

Ireland’s first sporting celebrity by conquering English opponents in well-hyped

prize fights. 

May Hezlett (1882–1978), the best woman golfer of her generation; she wrote

an influential book encouraging other women to take up the sport.

Terry Mullen (1938–89), who won a Paralympic gold medal in bowls in heroic

circumstances.

Vere Goold (1853–1909), the first notable lawn tennis player to emerge from

Ireland; he is also the only Wimbledon finalist to be convicted of murder—so far.

Mabel Cahill (1863–1905), this determined competitor, criticised for her

‘masculine’ playing style, dominated women’s tennis in the US from 1890 to

1893.

George Best (1946–2005), soccer’s first pop celebrity, his attacking virtuosity

delivered European glory for Manchester United before his talent succumbed

prematurely to fame and addiction.

Six new biographies were specially commissioned for the book, including:

• Brede Arkless (1939–2006), a mountaineer and rock climber of extraordinary

longevity, she was the first woman to become an internationally recognised

mountain guide.

• Jack Charlton (1935–2020), this hugely popular Republic of Ireland soccer

manager led his team to the world cups of 1990 and 1994, sparking mass

outbreaks of national celebration.

• Clara ‘Ma’ Copley (1865–1949), a doyenne of Belfast boxing who, aged

seventy, became the first woman boxing promoter in either Ireland or Britain.