Con Walsh
Encyclopedia
Con Walsh was an Irish Canadian
athlete who represented Canada
at the 1908 Summer Olympics
. He won a bronze medal in the hammer throw
, finishing third behind fellow Irishmen John Flanagan and Matt McGrath
, both of whom represented the United States. Another Irishman, Robert Kerr also represented Canada at the same games. Walsh had earlier played Gaelic football
and represented Cork .
Walsh also competed for both the Irish American Athletic Club
and the New York Athletic Club.He was part of a group of Irish weight throwers that were collectively known as the "Irish Whales
."
In 1910, Walsh set the record for throwing the 56 pound weight for height, breaking Pat McDonald's record by throwing the weight 16 feet 7/8 inches high at the second annual athletic meet of the New York Press Club
Athletic Association.
Irish Canadian
Irish Canadian are immigrants and descendants of immigrants who originated in Ireland. 1.2 million Irish immigrants arrived, 1825 to 1970, at least half of those in the period from 1831-1850. By 1867, they were the second largest ethnic group , and comprised 24% of Canada's population...
athlete who represented Canada
Canada at the 1908 Summer Olympics
- Gold:* Robert Kerr — Athletics, Men's 200 m* Frank Dixon, George Campbell, Angus Dillon, Richard Louis Duckett, George Rennie, Clarence McKerrow, Alexander Turnbull, Henry Hoobin, Ernest Hamilton, John Broderick, Tommy Gorman, Patrick Brennan — Lacrosse, Men's Team Competition* Walter...
at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics
At the 1908 Summer Olympics held in London, England, 26 athletics events were contested, all for men only.Each nation was allowed to enter up to 12 competitors in most of the events. In the team races , each nation entered one team. The medley relay was run by four athletes, with four alternates...
. He won a bronze medal in the hammer throw
Hammer throw
The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown...
, finishing third behind fellow Irishmen John Flanagan and Matt McGrath
Matt McGrath
Matthew John “Matt” McGrath was a member of the Irish American Athletic Club, the New York Athletic Club, and the New York City Police Department. At the time of his death at age 65, he attained the rank of Inspector, and during his career received the NYPD's Medal of Valor twice. He competed for...
, both of whom represented the United States. Another Irishman, Robert Kerr also represented Canada at the same games. Walsh had earlier played Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
and represented Cork .
Walsh also competed for both the Irish American Athletic Club
Irish American Athletic Club
The Irish American Athletic Club was an amateur athletic organization, based in Queens, New York at the beginning of the 20th Century.-Early years:...
and the New York Athletic Club.He was part of a group of Irish weight throwers that were collectively known as the "Irish Whales
Irish Whales
The Irish Whales or "The Whales" was a nickname given to a group of Irish and Irish-American athletes who dominated weight-throwing events in the first two decades of the 20th Century...
."
In 1910, Walsh set the record for throwing the 56 pound weight for height, breaking Pat McDonald's record by throwing the weight 16 feet 7/8 inches high at the second annual athletic meet of the New York Press Club
New York Press Club
The New York Press Club is a membership organization of and for journalists and media professionals in the New York City metropolitan area. The club is a private, non-profit corporation and is not affiliated with any government office or agency and does not advocate or participate in any political...
Athletic Association.