The Irish standard., 1908-05-09

wa " 49Oos
reputation of his village for superiority
in athletics against all comers was
worshipped as hero.
1t was not. however, until the organ
ization Of the Gaelic Athletic Associa-
tion that Irishnen acquired a world
wide reputation in athletics, because
only since then were correct records
kept of their performances, and since
then, too, they travelled outside their
loWn country and measured themselves
with others, with the result that the
sons of that little island of four and a
half millions of people, and their i'm
mediate descendants, hold more world
records today than all the rest Of the
world put together. A brief history of
the Gaelic Athletic Association would
be interesting to the readers of The
Standard but it would be out of place
here. may say. however, that Michael
Cusick. a County Glare schoolmaster,
when he organized the Metropolitan
Hurting club of Dublin. paved the way
for the organization of the Association,
which has accomplished so much for
genuine national feeling and the efface-
mont of those local jealousies and diff
ferences which in the past tended so
much to keep Irishmen apart.
| Among the of Icfe
of the organization in its early days
was John Purcell also a Glare man,
late of this city-"Honest John,' who
for several years held the worlds rec
ord for the long jump and the hop.
step and jump. Many others achieved
distinction in those early days, con-
spicuous among them being ]. S.
Mitchell. the brothers Pat and Maurice
DAWN, of gallant Tipperary, and ]. T..
Malone Of Milton, Malbay. County
Glare. may add one other Clare name
to this list-Peter Foley, now of the
police force in Chicago, a giant in
size and strength, yet as light Of foot
as Asahe, Jobs brother.
The Irish American Athlete club of
New York contains among it's menu
bership many of the best Irish athletes
who have come to this country. This
celebrated club has outclassed all other
clubs in this country, and one of its
members. Martin ]. Sheridan, holds the
worlds all-around championship.
Following are the worlds records in
the events named. The names indicate
the race to which the athletes belong:
Running-1oo yards, A. E. Duffy and
Dan j. Kelly, 93-5 seconds. 22O yards,
Barney j. Wefers, 81 1-5 seconds. 500
yards, T. E. Burke. 81 AS seconds.
Is 3-5 seconds. Running high jump,
M. F. Sweeney, feet 5 5-8 inches;
next Pat I.eahy, feet 43-4 inches.
Running long jump. Pat O'Connor, "a
feet 1894 inches (O'Connor jumped
o5 feet 1 inch in practice). Hop. step
and jump, Dan Shanahan, so feet 1-2
| At'>AA oAA"' pVeS4iS' 1V pCuIuSs 1Ndipu
Rose, 40 feet TIA inch: % pound
weight. with follow, Denis Horgan, 36
feet 3 inches; 56 pounds with one hand
without run or follow, ]. S. Mitchell,
% feet 2 inches; Sc pounds, with two
hands, without run or follow. John
Flanagan, 81 feet S inches, who also
throw this weight 40 feet inches, with
unlimited run and follow: Sc pounds
thrown for height. Is feet 6 3-S inches,
by J. S. Mitchell. who threw it Irish
style. one hand, with unlimited run
ard follow, 3s feet 3 inches. is pound
hammer from foot circle, 173 feet
inches, NJ. J. McGrath. Throwing
the discus, free style. 1876 feet 10
inches. Martin ]. Sheridan.
Any people may we'll feel proud Of
these men and of the prominence they
hold in the world Of athletics. At the
Olympic games to be held in London
next July America will look to men of
Irish birth and Irish blood to bring
back to her the bays of victory in all
the events which they enter. Ireland,
not being a nation, was debarred from
separate entry III the Olympic games
at Athens four years ago. and it is
probable she will be similarly treated
this year. She will, however, get her
revenge through America.
In this country it has been truly said
from baseball very little would be left
need not mention where the Irish
stard in boxing and wrestling: 1t is
unnecessary.