The Wonder Years

Cultural historian and author Dr Siobhán Doyle joins the team to talk about the Tailteann Games, the ambition of blue shirt Eoin O’Duffy in trying to land the 1940 Olympics to Dublin, the role of women in Olympic sport and we continue to chart fascinating links between GAA players who became Olympians, celebrating Ireland’s double Olympic champion Dr Pat O’Callaghan.

 

In the space of an incredible hour in 1932 in LA. Pat O’Callaghan and Bob Tisdall won Olympic gold medals for Ireland.  While Pat was courted by Hollywood movie producers after, it would inspire Blue shirt Eoin O’Duffy to try and land the Olympic Games to Dublin in 1940.

 

A gold medal winning hurdler with little previous experience, a two-time Irish Olympic champion offered leading man roles in Hollywood, a two-time All-Ireland winner and Olympic basketballer and a Munster final hurler who ran an Olympic marathon. It’s all part of the Wonder Years in Lords of the Rings the GAA’s Olympic story.

 

Lords of the Rings: The GAA’s Olympics Story is a podcast available today from gaa.ie, Spotify and usual platforms, produced by Andrew Foley and GAA Digital Manager Niamh Boyle.

The views, opinions, and historical interpretations presented in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the GAA or any other organisation mentioned.