Cork City Sports - A Brief History

CORK CITY SPORTS – A BRIEF HISTORY

by John Walshe

cork city sports organising committee 1951 photo echo live

Cork City Sports Organising Committee 1951 - Photo: Echo Live Archives

[This article was scheduled to appear in the Meet Programme Booklet for the 69th Cork City Sports, July 5th 2022, however event changes led to it being dropped due to space limitations]

On Friday June 6th, 1973, the Cork City Sports celebrated its Silver Jubilee meeting at the Mardyke. The souvenir programme of that year contained a brief history of the sports up to that point, which is reprinted below

The first in the current series of Cork City Sports meetings was held on July 26th, 1949. The meeting replaced the old Cork Drapers Sports, a fixture that had been discounted for some years previous to 1949 because of lack of funds. The Cork City Sports filled a great gap in the sporting life of the Southern capital and has maintained, in the 25 years that have elapsed, its standing as one of the leading athletics meeting in the country

The revival of a Cork athletics meeting was due, in large measure, to the untiring work of Mr John O Jagoe, a well-known Cork businessman and a former athlete. He represented Ireland in the Tailteann Games in the course of his athletics career and as well was an Inter-Varsity champion

He was President of the first Cork City Sports organising committee that was set up on June 20th, 1949, and has held this post up to the present day. The first committee and officers as elected in 1949 were: President, John O Jagoe; Chairman, Jim Buckley; Hon Treasurers, Comdt R O’Sullivan and Lt Des Henry; Hon Secretaries, Michael Murphy and Ted Moore; Committee: Ned Keniry, Dan Murphy, Paddy Conway and MJ Nagle

The presence of the Army officers on the committee was of special significance for while a great many have contributed to the success of the fixture down through the years, the contribution of the Irish Army, and in particular the Southern Command, has been vital. Col J O’Hanrahan, Officer Commanding Southern Command, was the man who first extended the hand of co-operation on behalf of the Army and his un-stinted support has been just as forthcoming from his successors

Financial support was provided in generous measure in 1949 by the late Mr William Dwyer of Sunbeam Wolsey Ltd, who must be regarded as one the first sponsors of athletics in this country. He supplied the revenue that was so essential in getting the venture off the ground and vital support was also forthcoming from University College, Cork, through the then President, Dr A O’Rahilly. The college grounds at the Mardyke has been the venue for the meeting down through the years

The organisers have always been adventurous and ambitious in their plans. They established American involvement in the meeting for the first time in 1951 when the USA Vice Consul in Cork, Mr Nick Lakas, handed over a solid silver cup that was called The American Trophy for competition. It is awarded, with a miniature, to the outstanding athlete of the meet and, as far is known, is the only award made by the USA Government to any sporting organisation in Ireland

This American involvement was deepened in 1953 when the American Ambassador, Mr R Taft and Mrs Taft, visited Cork and were accorded a civil reception by the Lord Mayor, the late Mr Pa McGrath. Mrs Taft later presented the prizes at the Cork Sports and 12 months later Mr Taft was instrumental in initiating an Inter-Services contest between the Irish Army and the United States Air Force, with the American team drawn from personnel serving in England

This competition lapsed in 1968, but the ties that had been established were responsible for the visit of the strongest team of American athletes ever to compete in Ireland in 1969. The American Forces team on their way to France for the CISM Games, helped make the 21st Cork City Sports the most successful on record with such outstanding Olympic and international athletes as Charlie Green, Mel Pender, Neil Steinhauer, John Carter, Dalton Le Blanc and Ken Moore competing

This meeting was undoubtedly the most successful yet, but over the years the fixture has been graced by all the great athletes and cyclists this country has produced. Only last season, Ian Stewart, the English Olympic medallist, helped underline the status of the meeting while running 13:46.8 over 5000m. And as well as striving to bring the top international athletes to Cork, the organisers have done much to foster ladies’ athletics

They included ladies events on the programme each year since 1960 and in 1963 broke new ground when they negotiated clearance for Maeve Kyle to compete at the Mardyke. The appearance of the great Olympic athlete was great boost to women’s athletics in the South