This is my later father, Leonard Nicholas Horan, who still ranks among the top-20 most prolific Irish athletics champions of all time. The photograph was taken on a beach in Achill in the 1930s, when he was at his physical peak. He was a student of Celtic languages at Trinity College from 1931 to 1935 and he spent long periods in the west of Ireland learning Irish, so this photo probably dates from then.
Dad was a sporting all-rounder, whose athletic talents were nurtured by the coach Tom Maguire, who spotted Dad on the rugby field, on the Trinity first XV, and persuaded him to take up the shot-put. And so began a glittering athletics career. He went on to win 16 Irish Championships – one for decathlon, four for discus, three for javelin and eight for shot – as well as intervarsity titles in shot and discus. He was a star performer of the Dublin University Harriers and Athletic Club in the 1930s and then of the Hermes club, based in College Park. He also had an impressive rugby career, winning two caps for Leinster, playing for the Rest of Ireland in the 1937 trials and becoming a stalwart at Wanderers, where he donned the hooped jersey well into the 1940s.
Although Dad represented Ireland internationally, like many of his contemporaries he was denied the opportunity of the world athletics stage when war led to the cancellation of the Olympics in 1940 and 1944. This must have been a serious blow, given that he had exceeded the qualifying standard for the shot, but he remained philosophical. He was, however, deeply affected by the theft of most of his medals in a break-in at the family home in Greystones.
Dad continued his studies, adding an HDip Ed, a master’s in physical education, a licentiateship of the London College of Music and a diploma in singing to his primary degree. He became a much-loved and respected teacher, coach and headmaster, with posts in Bishop Foy school, Waterford; Drogheda Grammar School; Preston School, Navan; and Wilson’s Hospital School, Co Westmeath.
Everyone who encountered him recalls his good humour, enthusiasm, integrity and ability to inspire others to achieve their best, on the sports field and elsewhere. A fine legacy.
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