Google+ Running in Cork, Ireland: Memorial to Olympian Joe West unveiled in Carrigaline

Monday, July 07, 2014

Memorial to Olympian Joe West unveiled in Carrigaline

Joe West was an Irish athlete who represented Ireland in the marathon at the 1952 Olympics.  A native of Carrigaline, he was an active sportsman and was also involved in road bowling. football and hurling. He was on the Senior Cork Hurling team in 1948.

In his athletics career, he ran with Rising Sun AC and Hilltown AC before moving to Coventry in England in 1951 where he ran with Godiva Harriers.

He won numerous national titles over 10 miles and the marathon distance and represented Ireland at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

At a special ceremony in Carrigaline on Monday the 7th of July 2014, a memorial artwork was unveiled to him next to the community park.

(L) Sculptor Peter Drinan with Finbarr O'Brien (R), President of Leevale AC who unveiled the art work.

For more information on Joe West and his athletics career, visit this page.

Also see this previous post from 2012 about the time in 1953 when the Cork City Sports included a road race.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I never knew Joe West as I start3ed running in 1954 and joined Coventry Godiva harriers in 1955. Joe, however, along with Paddy Mulvihill were the start of a good number of Godiva members who ran in the Olympic Games marathon over the years and so started a legacy of distance running in the Club. What a nice touch for Joe to be celebrated with this paque in his home town.

Bill Adcocks - Secretary of Coventry Godiva harriers and GB Olympic marathon representative 1968.

Anonymous said...

Had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with Joe at his home in Co Cork many years ago and he was delighted to hear how his old club Coventry Godiva Harriers were doing ...Fitting tribute to a man who achieved so much in the sport on both sides of the water .. Colin Deasy