June 3, 2022
OTD: John Flanagan (9 Jan 1873 - 3 Jun 1938)
John Flanagan, the three-time Olympic Hammer champion athlete, was born on 9 January 1873 at Kilbreedy, Limerick. He emigrated to America in 1896 where he joined the New York City Police Department.
While in New York he rose to fame in athletic circles as a hammer thrower. He represented the United States in the Olympic Games and is best remembered for winning three consecutive Gold medals (1900, 1904, 1908), a feat still unequaled.
In 1911 he returned to Limerick to work the family farm . He continued his involvement in athletics as both a competitor and a coach. He passed on the 3rd of June 1938) One of Ireland's most famous Irish Whales.
OTD: James Plunkett (1920 - 2003)
James Plunkett, author of Strumpet City, one of the best books on Dublin, was born on 21 May 1920 in the Hibernian metropolis. Strumpet City details the lives of common Dublin folk and their hero, James Larkin. The novel is an excellent fiction…
Brexit and the Irish Border
In our latest Irish Stew Podcast episode, cohost Martin Nutty sat down with documentary filmmaker Alan Gilsenan and journalist John Walsh to explore their thought-provoking film, The Irish Question.
We think this episode makes for good list…
