Sport

Carroll, William (‘Willie’) (c.1880–c.1930), boxer, gymnast, rope-climber, and co-founder of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, was born in Moore St., Dublin, but there are no details of his background or family life. A strong, highly talented athlete, Carroll…

Casey, Philip (1841–1904), handball player, known as Phil Casey, was born in Shannon Street, Mountrath, Queen's County (Co. Laois), in 1841, the son of Patrick and Brigid Casey. He was educated at the Patrician College, Mountrath, where he began to play handball on the college's three-…

Casey, Steve (‘Crusher’) (1908–87), wrestler and rower, was born 4 December 1908 in Loughane, near Sneem, Co. Kerry, eldest among seven sons and three daughters of Michael Casey, stonemason, and Bridget Casey (née Sullivan) of Ballaugh, Sneem, Co. Kerry. His father, who had returned to…

Cavan, Harry (Henry Hartrick) (1916–2000), football administrator and trade union official, was born on 19 May 1916 in Mary Street, Newtownards, Co. Down, the eldest child of Walter Cavan, a motor body maker, and his wife Clara (née Quinn). Educated locally, he left school at 14 to…

Chamberlain, Sir Neville Francis Fitzgerald (1856–1944), soldier, inspector general of the RIC, and originator of snooker, was born 13 January 1856 at Upton Park, Upton, Buckinghamshire, England, only son of Lt-col. Charles Francis Falcon Chamberlain of the Indian army and Marion Ormsby…

Charlton, Jack (1935–2020), soccer player and manager, was born 8 May 1935 in Ashington, a coal-mining village in Northumberland, near Newcastle, the eldest of four boys of Bob, a miner, and his wife Cissie (née Milburn), a housewife. He attended Hirst North Primary School and then…

Christle, Joseph Patrick (1927–98), republican, college lecturer, and sports administrator, was born 4 November 1927 in Dublin, into the large family (which included at least seven sons, of whom he was the fourth) of James Christle, a small farmer from Co. Offaly who moved to…

Clifford, Jeremiah Thomas (‘Tom’) (1922–90), rugby footballer, was born 15 November 1922 in Pegsboro, Tipperary, Co. Tipperary, son of Jeremiah Clifford, labourer, and Mary Clifford (née Hyland). He played for the Limerick-based Young Munster club throughout his career, winning…

Clinch, James Daniel (‘Jammie’) (1901–81), rugby player, was born 28 September 1901 in Clondalkin, Co. Dublin, the son of Andrew (‘Coo’) Clinch (1867–1937), medical practitioner and rugby player, and his wife, Lilian, née Hynes. Andrew was a wing-forward and won ten caps for Ireland…

Close, Leo St John (1934–77), paraplegic athlete, was born 20 October 1934, the son of Leo Joseph Close, inspector of schools, and his wife, Kathleen Mary, née O'Connor, who lived at 16 Berea Terrace, Dublin. He was educated at Belvedere College, Dublin, Mount St Joseph Abbey, Roscrea,…

Coad, Patrick (‘Paddy’) (1920–92), soccer player, was born 14 April 1920 at 100 Lower Yellow Road, Waterford city, son of Michael Coad, sailor, and Johanna (‘Joanie’) Coad (née Morrissey). As a schoolboy at De La Salle College he excelled at hurling and table tennis, winning a…

Cochrane, Sir Stanley Herbert (1877–1949), baronet, businessman, and patron of music and sport, was born 19 September 1877, the fourth son of Sir Henry Cochrane (qv), 1st baronet, of Woodbrook, Bray, Co. Wicklow, and his wife…

Colleran, Enda (1942–2004), Gaelic footballer, was born 2 May 1942 in Moylough, Co. Galway, the fifth of six children of James Colleran, farmer, of Moylough, and his wife Ellen (née Wilson), a national school teacher. Born into a strong Gaelic football family, with three older…

Colleran, Patrick (Paddy) (1901–75), Gaelic footballer, was born 10 February 1901 in Curracunane, Curry, Co. Sligo, fourth son among seven sons and two daughters of James P. Colleran (d. 1914), farmer, and Margaret Colleran (née McHugh). He was one of the most famous and travelled…

Collis, (William) Robert Fitzgerald (‘Bob’) (1900–75), paediatrician, author, and rugby player, was born 16 February 1900 at Kilmore, Killiney, Co. Dublin, one of twin sons (his twin was John Stewart Collis (qv)) of William Stewart…

Colohan, John Fallon Sydney (1862–1932), physician and pioneering motorist, was born in Dublin, son of James Colohan, bank manager; nothing is known of his mother. He studied at the Edinburgh Medical School, and was admitted…

Conneff, Thomas Patrick (1866–1912), athlete and soldier, was born in Kilmurry, Clane, Co. Kildare, the son of James Conneff and his wife Marcella (née Rourke). The Conneff family were blacksmiths plying their trade in the neighbourhood of Clane, in the shadow of the Jesuit college at…

Connolly, Joe (1922–2008), community activist and politician, was born 11 March 1922 at 5 Tolka Avenue, North Dock ward, Dublin, son of John Connolly, an engine driver, and his wife Esther (née McNally). Growing up in Lusk, Co. Dublin, and later in the East Wall area of the north-…

Connolly, John (1858–96), champion flat-racing jockey, was born in Naas, Co. Kildare, nephew of the famous jockey Pat Connolly. His uncle was champion in Ireland, and in England, where he won all the English classics in 1834, and the Epsom Derby twice. John was of slight build, and…

Coote, Nina Edith (1883–1945), croquet champion, was born 23 September 1883 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, only child of Orlando Robert Coote (1855–1927), land agent, and his wife Edith Mary (née Hume) (1858/9–1920). Her father was the third son of Rev. Sir Algernon Coote (1817–99…

Copley, Clara (‘Ma’) (1865–1949), boxing promoter, was born 14 May 1865 at Masbrough, Rotherham, England, to Jonas Roddis, fishmonger, and his wife Mary Roddis. Clara was the sixth of their nine children. She married Joseph Copley of Leeds on 22 November 1886 at Darfield, Yorkshire.…

Corcoran, Peter (c.1749–c.1781), bare-knuckle boxer and heavyweight champion of England, was born in Athy, Co. Kildare. A strong man, 5 ft 11 in. (1.8 m) tall, he had a violent temper that often caused trouble. He quickly won a reputation as a strong and powerful…

Corkery, Daniel (1883–1961), revolutionist and politician, was born 20 September 1883 into small farming stock in Clondrohid parish, near Macroom, Co. Cork, youngest of two sons and one daughter of James Corkery and Johanna Corkery (née Buckley). Educated at Macroom national school…

Corry, Daniel (1902–90), army officer and showjumper, was born 30 August 1902 in Loughrea, Co. Galway, the second of five children of Daniel Corry, shopkeeper, and Ellen Corry (née Morrissey); he was educated locally and as a boarder at St Joseph's College, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.…

Coughlan, Eugene (‘Eudie’) (1900–87), hurler, was born 26 August 1900 at Blackrock, Co. Cork, second son of Patrick Coughlan, fisherman, and Nora Coughlan (née Dorney). He was educated locally at Blackrock before leaving school aged 14 to work as a fisherman. From a strong hurling…