FEEL the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, it’s Irish bobsleigh time.
We all know the inspiring 1993 film Cool Runnings, that told the true story of a bobsleigh team from Jamaica making it to the Olympics.
But did you know that the Irish bobsleigh team could have been competing at the same games?
It all started in 1986 when London-Irish businessman Larry Tracey got the gift of a week-long bobsleigh course at the St. Moritz track in Switzerland from his wife.
He was hooked, but discovered in order to drive some of the world’s best tracks, he’d have to become an international driver.
Larry, whose father was from Naas and mother from Maguiresbridge, near Enniskillen was a former rower who has trialled for the Irish rowing team ahead of the 1972 Olympics and still knew some of the best in the business.
He contacted Olympian Pat McDonagh and his Neptune rowing club team mate Gerry Macken.
They formed the Irish Bobsleigh and Luge Association and began racing on the international circuit.
Against all odds, since neither Pat nor Gerry had even bobsleighed before, they, along with new arrival, Jim Cassidy, qualified for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
But at the last minute the Olympic Council of Ireland refused to let them compete and withdrew them from the games. There was no reason given.
Larry sought a high court injunction but the judge ruled in the OCI’s favour and the team didn’t travel. It was the one that got away.
The Calgary games would go down in history courtesy of the famous Jamaican bobsleigh team and Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards.
Larry was not one to take no for an answer. Recruiting new athletes into the team, they set their sights on qualifying for the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France to once again attempt to make Irish sporting history.
Four years later the dream came true; they had two two-man bobs competing.
Pat was joined by Olympian Javelin Thrower Terry McHugh ( Family in the Athboy area) and Gerry Macken rode with Malachy Sheridan. Other members of the team included John Farrelly ( cousin of Farrelly's in Rathmore and of Farrelly's shop in Connaught st, Athboy) and Garry Power, who were both in reserve.
The teams finished 32nd and 38th of the 46 crews on show.
Throws Coach Paddy Hanily recalls John Farrelly coming down to train Discus in Fr Murphy's along with Hammer throwers Simon Linscheid (who lived in Trim)(98 Bobsleigh team) and Barry Delaney( 2010, Bobsleigh Technician) prior to their Olympic debuts. The explosive power of the throwing events made these athletes great picks for the power and speed to participate in the Irish bobsleigh teams
2022 Team Ireland will be marching into the stadium as the 65th Nation in this years winter Olympics and the 8th Irish Winter Olympic team to ever represent the country. Watch coverage on RTE!
In what is Team Ireland’s eighth time to compete at the Winter Olympics, the six athletes selected to represent the country contrast in experience.
Jack Gower (alpine skiing), the first Irish athlete in action when he competes early on Sunday morning and Elsa Desmond (luge) are first-time Olympians. Desmond, who set up the Irish Luge Federation herself in order to compete for Ireland, has secured her name in history as Ireland’s first luge athlete.
Tess Arbez (alpine skiing) is set to compete in the giant slalom, slalom and Super G events, while Thomas Maloney Westgaard (cross country skiing) and freestyle skier Brendan 'Bubba’ Newby all competed in the Pyeongchang Games four years ago.
At 24 years of age, Seamus O’Connor (snowboard halfpipe) will become the first Irish athlete to compete in three Winter Olympic Games.
Best of luck to all these incredible Athletes!!
