Back in 1956, Maeve Kyle became the first Irish woman to take part in athletics in the Olympics when she competed in the 100m and 200m in Melbourne. At the time, it caused a bit of consternation in consevative Ireland with some people writing some 'stern' letters to the Irish Times! ;o)
She would later take part in the 1960 Rome Olympics and 1964 Tokyo Olympics (where she reached the semi-finals of both the 400m and 800m). She then went on to take bronze in the 400m at the 1966 European Indoor Athletics Championships in Dortmund. As well as being involved in athletics, Maeve also played hockey for Ireland and gained 58 caps.
The Newstalk Off the Ball sports programme interviewed Maeve recently and you can hear the 20 minute interview here...
On the Running Review website, James Sullivan also has another interview. You can read it HERE
Maeve was the first female athletics Olympian, but not Ireland's first female Olympian.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice Hill-Lowe, an archer, got there long before her in 1908.
Tennis players Phoebe Blait White and Hilda Wallis were on the first "Free State" team of 1924; swimmer Marguerite Dockrell competed in 1928.
Thanks for that Lindie
ReplyDeleteI should have specified athletics.
Great interview and love the part where she says that they had to have the hockey skirt measured to make sure it was no more then 4 inches of the ground before they played.
ReplyDelete