Analysis: Ireland sent 48 athletes to Paris in 1924 to compete in seven different events, from soccer to water polo
Ireland competed at the Olympic Games for the first time in 1924. That year, athletes from some 44 nations descended on Paris to compete in the Games of the VIII Olympiad which took place from May 4th to July 27th. Germany was banned from taking part, as it had been in 1920. In total, 3,089 athletes competed in 126 events in 17 different sports. Ireland's 48 athletes competed in seven different events including the high jump, boxing and the shot put, javelin, water polo, football and tennis.
Ireland’s participation at the 1924 Olympics was a powerful statement of its newfound independence. Much of the work to make Ireland eligible to compete at the 1924 Games as an independent nation was down to J.J. (John James) Keane. He founded the Irish Olympic Council in the early 1920s and became its first president. He lobbied the governing body of the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee, and its president, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, to have Ireland admitted. His hard work paid off and Ireland was allowed to compete with the other nations of the world in what is perhaps the largest and most famous sporting contest in the world.
From Pathé, coverage of the opening ceremony of the 1924 Olympic Games
Ireland marched in 25th position in the opening ceremony which took place at the Stade Olympique de Colombes on July 5th 1924. They marched behind the tricolour and this proved to be controversial for some nations: the Philippines were annoyed that they had to parade behind their flag and that of the United States as it was occupied by the US at the time.
Ireland’s flag bearer was the world champion weight thrower John O'Grady. As well as a flag to show spectators which team was being led out, a banner with the country’s name was also displayed. In Ireland’s case, the banner read 'Ireland’ which was not technically correct as the island had been partitioned into the Free State and Northern Ireland.
The Irish soccer team were one of 22 nations competing in the tournament. They left Dublin on May 24th for the Games, taking a train from Westland Row train station (now Pearse Street) to Dun Laoghaire and then a boat to Holyhead. Contemporary newspaper reports state that they stayed in the Prince Albert Hotel in Paris.
From FAI, the story of Ireland's first ever senior soccer Internationals at the 1924 Olympics
Ireland got a bye in the first round and played Bulgaria at the Stade Olympique on May 28th in the second round. The Irish team wore blue jerseys, white shorts and black socks, with a shamrock embroidered on a white shield on the breast of the jersey. A crowd of just 1,659 spectators gathered in the stadium to watch the match.
The Irish tricolour was flown at the stadium and Let Erin Remember, a traditional song usually played on bagpipes, was chosen as the anthem. A bouquet was presented to the captain before each of Ireland’s matches. Paddy Duncan of St James' Gate scored the only goal of the game which finished 1-0 to Ireland. Just this year on the centenary of the match, the game was recognised by the FAI as the first ever Irish senior international men’s match.
Ireland progressed to the quarter-final of the tournament, but lost 2-1 to the Netherlands. Played in the Stade de Paris in Saint-Ouen on June 2nd, the attendance only reached 1,506 spectators. The Irish goal was scored by Frank Ghent of Athlone Town. The following day, Ireland played an international friendly in the Olympic stadium against Estonia before a crowd of 3,000. The Irish team won 3-0 with goals coming from Duncan, Christy Robinson of Bohemian FC and Ghent.
Footage from Uruguay's successful run at the 1924 Olympics, ending with a 3-0 victory over Switzerland in the final
In an analysis of the football matches played at the 1924 Games, a journalist from the Irish Independent said that the standard in the games was "very high". He commended the players who were quick in getting the ball under control which was "no simple task" on the hard grounds. He noted that goalkeeping standards were high. The one gripe he had was with the standard of referring, which he classed as the "one weak spot in the tournament". Some things never change! A wreath inscribed in Irish and French honoring those who died for France, was laid at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Arc de Triomphe by the Irish delegation.
Another group of Irish athletes left Westland Row on the evening of June 30th, waved off at the station by friends and well-wishers. They were seen off at Dun Laoghaire by the Minister for External Affairs Desmond FitzGerald. They were accompanied on their journey by the Chief Commissioner of the Dublin Metropolitan Police General W.R.E. Murphy, who was a treasurer of the Irish Olympic Council, and his secretary, Colonel Eamon (Ned) Broy.
Accommodation had been booked for them in the Olympic Village. This was the first time that such an arrangement was in place where all the athletes and their support staff could stay in one place. Consisting of portable wooden cabins with running water, it also had several services including a post office, bureau de change, hairdressers and a restaurant.
The only two women who competed for Ireland that year, Phoebe Blair-White and Hilda Wallis, took part in the singles and doubles tennis. The tennis players, the water polo team, the boxers, who were mostly in the National Army and those who took part in the athletics events did not manage to secure any medals.
Paris Jeux T'Aime, documentary on the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris
Instead, it was our creative artistic talents that triumphed. During those years, there were art competitions as part of the Olympics. Jack B. Yeats was awarded a silver medal for his painting depicting swimmers taking part in the annual swim on the Liffey. Now referred to as The Liffey Swim, the painting was originally entitled Swimming. Oliver St John Gogarty also won a bronze medal in the literature category.
This year, an estimated 10 million spectators are expected to be present at the Games in Paris, a far cry from the 625,000 spectators who were there in 1924. For the opening ceremony alone this year, around 600,000 people will attend the opening ceremony in Paris on July 26th.
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