Ireland's First Major International AthleteMedal: Athletics,...

Hammer

€6,250

Ireland's First Major International AthleteMedal: Athletics, Kiely (T.F.) Irish, An important and historically significant solid gold circular Medal, the obverse depicting, in relief, the Goddess of Victorian "Nike and with garland" inscribed "Amateur Athletic Union of the United States [1888]" the reverse decorated with various sporting trophies and implements and inscribed "All Round Championship - June 23rd, 1906, won by T.F. Kiely," hall marked solid gold Boston, approx. 41gms (1.45 ounces). (1)Note:Thomas Francis (Tom) Kiely was born in 1869 at Ballyneale near Carrick-on-Suir in south Tipperary, the son of a farmer. He burst upon the sporting scene in 1890 when at the age of twenty-one he took part in a meeting at Carrick-on-Suir at which he won five prizes. Over the next few years he won success after success. But victory did not come easily: working-class people in his day simply were not given the time for the rigorous training schedules which we regard as the norm today. Moreover, Kiely was also playing football for Grangemockler GAA Club, in the course of which he sustained a number of injuries.In 1904 he took part in the Olympic Games held at St Louis in America, paying his own way and refusing all offers of support. The weather was appalling: torrential rain fell during the contest; the hammer and shot circles had to be cleared of mud before the competitors could perform; the jumping area was just a huge puddle. Nonetheless, Tom Kiely came first in the hurdles, hammer and mile walk, and was highly placed in the jumps, shots and sprints, winning a gold medal as All-Round Champion.Two years later Kiely competed in the American All-Round Championships, held in Boston. He finished second in the sprint, high jump and pole vault, came first in the shot, hammer and broad jump, and ended the day by winning the mile race. He was declared all-round champion and was awarded the gold medal that we offer for sale here.The impact back home of victories such as this, and of the Davin brothers of Carrick, was enormous. All through the 19th century, British establishment propaganda had portrayed the ordinary Irishman as an ape-like savage, stupid and violent and incapable of self-discipline. Yet here were the sons of Irish farmers taking on the best in the world and winning. With citizens such as these, perhaps Ireland could indeed become 'a nation once again'?Tom Kiely bought a farm at Fruithill near Dungarvan in Co. Waterford, married and had eight children. He died in 1951 and is buried in his native Ballyneale, where he is commemorated by a fine bronze plaque, the work of his fellow Celt, Yann Goulet of Brittany.