Irish Whales

Olympians of Old New York

Inbunden, Engelska, 2020

539 kr

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In the early 1900s, the Olympic Games track and field throwing events were dominated by a group of Irish-born weight throwers representing the United States. Of immense size and with a larger-than-life presence, these athletes came to be known as the “Irish Whales.”In The Irish Whales: Olympians of Old New York, Kevin Martin shares the untold story of these Irish American athletes who competed with unparalleled distinction for the United States. James Mitchell, John Flanagan, Martin Sheridan, Pat McDonald, Paddy Ryan, and Con Walsh won a total of eighteen medals in the Olympic Games between 1900 and 1924 and completely dominated the world stage in their chosen athletic disciplines. They were lionized in the American and Irish press and became folk heroes among Irish-American immigrant communities. Almost all of these men were further distinguished by their membership in the fabled Irish American Athletic Club of New York and careers with the New York Police Department.The story of the Irish Whales is the very embodiment of the American Dream and exemplifies the triumph of many Irish emigrants in the New World. Featuring a wonderful collection of original photographs, The Irish Whales tells the dramatic stories of these international athletes and their extraordinary sporting successes.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2020-09-01
Mått161 x 228 x 24 mm
Vikt544 g
FormatInbunden
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor238
FörlagBloomsbury Publishing Plc
ISBN9781538142301

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Kevin Martin holds a master’s degree in communications and cultural studies from Ireland’s Dublin City University. He has taught communications, Irish social and cultural history, and cultural studies at high school and university levels. Martin’s three published works in Ireland include Have Ye No Homes To Go To?:The History of the Irish Pub (2016), A Happy Type of Sadness: A Journey Through Irish Country Music (2018), and The Complete Guide to Irish Pubs (2018).

Introduction 1: Exodus: Isle of Hope, Isle of Dreams 2: American Sports: Irish Whales 3: James “Jim” Mitchell and the Irish Invasion 4: John “The Modern Hercules” Flanagan and Olympic Gold 5: American Fiasco, Irish American Triumph: The St. Louis Olympic Games, 1904 6: Peerless Athlete and Intrepid American: Martin Sheridan and the Forgotten Olympics 7: The Irish American Athletic Club: Home of the Whales 8: The Irish Whales’ Greatest Triumph: The 1908 London Olympics 9: 1912: The Swedish Masterpiece 10: Interregnum: 1912 to 1920 11: Last Throws of the Dice: The Antwerp and Paris Olympic Games 12: A Whale of a Story: Aftermath and Legacy Appendix A: Olympic Medals Won by the Irish Whales as Part of the U.S. Olympic Team Appendix B: Olympic Hammer Throw Medals, 1900–1932 Appendix C: Multiple Medals Ranking, Hammer Throw Notes Bibliography Index About the Author

Cultural historian and educator Martin provides readers with an in-depth exploration of a forgotten group of Irish Olympians from the early 20th century. Names such as Jim Mitchell, John Flanagan, Matt McGrath, Pat McDonald, Martin Sheridan, and Pat Ryan fill the pages of this book, highlighting the impressive athleticism of this group of individuals, aptly named "Irish Whales" as a reflection of their girth and height. They set and broke myriad records for the hammer throw, discus, shot put, and 56-pound weight throw during numerous amateur athletic contests, including eight Olympic Games held between 1900 and 1932. The Whales earned a combined 22 Olympic medals (most of them gold) and 80 US Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) titles. Those Irish Whales who had immigrated to the US represented their new homeland with aplomb, but they never forgot the land of their birth. The text weaves together topics linking US immigration and Irish history, illustrating the significant role of nationalism and sports-related culture at the time, in a very readable manner. The influence of US-based sporting clubs and the role of the New York Police Department as employer for most of the Whales is also highlighted, and the presentation is enhanced by an appropriate selection of 33 photographic illustrations. Summing Up: Recommended.