Olympic champion Ronnie Delany returns to his old school the Catholic University School in Dublin.
Ronnie Delany, the 1956 1,500 metre Olympic gold medal winner, visits the Catholic University School in Dublin where he was a past pupil. Ronnie signs autographs for pupils and speaks with Fr Tom Lonergan in the school yard.
Fr Lonergan taught French in Catholic University School and later in Chanel College, Coolock. A well known figure in athletic circles and Fr Tom Lonergan had a schools cup named in his honour. He was a close friend of the vice-principal Jack Sweeney who was also very well regarded in athletics and was seen as somewhat of an expert particularly with what was happening in this area behind the Iron Curtain.
When Ronnie Delany won the Olympic gold he sent a telegram to Jack Sweeney, who was his coach, saying "We did it Jack".
The footage was shot on 16mm film by Father Charles Kerr a member of staff at the school.
| Title: | Ronnie Delany 1956 |
| Clip Duration: | 00:00:43 |
| Material Type: | Video |
| Clip Title: | Ronnie Delany Returns to Old School |
| Series Title: | Catholic University School Collection |
| Information: | Ronnie Delany won the 1500m gold medal at the 1956 Olympic games in Melbourne Australia. He attended the Catholic University School in Dublin before going to college at Vilanova University in the United States of America. In December 1956 in recognition of his success the past pupil's union of the Catholic University School made Ronnie Delany and honary life member of the Union and presented him with an illuminated scroll at a dinner in the Shelbourne Hotel. Fr Charles Kerr sm who made this film was born on April 30th 1903 in Clones, Co Monaghan. He was educated in St Mary’s College, Dundalk and was professed a Marist on September 8th 1923. He studied Theology in Paignton (Devon) and Differt (Belgium). He took a degree in English, Latin and French in UCD and a Higher Diploma in Education. He was Fr Charles Kerr sm known as Charlie and was ordained on 23rd February 1929. He taught for various periods in St Marys College, Dundalk, Catholic University School, Leeson Street and Chanel College, Coolock where he died on February 5th 1987. Fr Charlie Kerr had a great interest in film and photography and filmed a number of musical productions in the 1950’s and 1960’s which are now in the IFI Irish Film Archive. He also on a Saturday afternoon for a number of years, while posted in CUS between 1947 and 1965, had Saturday afternoon film shows where we understand many romances developed ending in wedded bliss for many! |
| Local Keywords: | Athletics, Dublin, Gold Medal, Olympics, Ronnie Delany, Sport, Catholic University School, Pupils, Priest, Tom Lonergan |
| Coverage: | Ireland |
| Genre: | Sport |
| Topic: | The Media |
| Provider: | RTÉ |
| Contributor(s): | Charles Kerr (Filmmaker) |
| Publisher: | RTÉ |
| First Broadcast Channel: | RTÉ |
| Production Year: | 1956c |
| Country of Production: | Ireland |
| Original Identifier: | DF3294 |
| IPR Restrictions: | Rights Reserved - Free Access |
| Rights, Terms and Conditions: | Copyright Catholic University School. This material may not be replicated in any form or manner without the prior express permission of the copyright holder. For more information contact RTÉ Archives. |
| Item Type: | part/extract |
| Colour: | Colour |
| Sound: | Silent |
| Aspect Ratio: | 4:3 |
| Language: | English (eng) |
