Clare boxers and pugilists (...a Turnpike man named O'Grady)

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Polycarp
Posts: 80
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:50 am

Clare boxers and pugilists (...a Turnpike man named O'Grady)

Post by Polycarp » Sat Jul 13, 2013 1:48 pm

The following uncanny news item from "The Saturday Record" (Ennis) of 4th September 1926 is of interest, given the presumed Clare ancestry of Muhammad Ali. It has been said that Ali's Clare ancestor was an Abe O'Grady from the Turnpike, Ennis, County Clare.

The news item in the 'Record' of 4 September carries two boxing notices under the heading 'Successful Ennis boxers'. The other news item concerns Mike McTigue.

"Ennis boxer's success".

An Indian paper contains an account of a boxing tournament, the principal contest in which was won by a Turnpike man named O'Grady. It was a ten-round contest, and O'Grady's opponent was a well-known boxer named Melvin, who entered the ring a firm favourite, having regard to his many previous successes. O'Grady had the best of the opening stages, getting home frequently in the first few rounds. Melvin in the next managed to get under his oponent's guard and inflicted punishment. In the rounds that followed clinches were frequent and necessitated the interference of the referee. O'Grady then managed to get in a couple of useful upper-cuts which kept Melvin off for a time, but Melvin then sent in a succession of short-arm jabs to the body and head. O'Grady countered neatly and won on points.


Possibly the O'Grady from the Turnpike might have been serving in the British Army in India. The old military barracks was near the Turnpike in Ennis.

Polycarp

Blondie
Posts: 54
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2014 6:43 pm

Re: Clare boxers and pugilists (...a Turnpike man named O'Gr

Post by Blondie » Wed Dec 10, 2014 12:38 am

Hopefully you can see the article at the top of the page about my ancestor, Jack Carrigg. His father and mother were from Clare.He may or may not have been born in Clare. Depends on when they emigrated. He was a barefisted fighter in America in the early 1900's.

http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%202 ... 200842.pdf

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