RINGY, ROY and ROG all played there, Sonia O’Sullivan ran there, a world record was set there and now, one of the most hallowed sporting venues in Cork, the Mardyke, has been celebrated in a fascinating history.
Written by emeritus professor of history at UCC, John A Murphy, Where Finbarr Playedmarks the centenary of UCC's acquisition of the sports grounds located on the banks of the river Lee and within walking distance of the city centre.
Although field sports were played in UCC – or Queen’s College Cork, as it was known before independence – as far back as the 1880s, the Mardyke was first acquired by Queen’s in 1911 in a joint lease arrangement with Cork County Football Club and Cork Constitution Rugby Club.
The grounds, which had previously hosted the Cork International Exhibition in 1902 and 1903, were bought by UCC in 1922. Since then the Mardyke has become synonymous with not just the sporting life of the university but the sporting life of Cork.
“Researching the book, a few things struck me – how important sport was in the life of UCC from an early stage, and the great camaraderie it engendered among those who played for college teams and the affection that they have retained for the college as a result,” said Prof Murphy.
“The other striking feature, I suppose, was how much UCC did its best to serve the community through making the Mardyke available for general sporting events, so you had rugby internationals played there, a soccer international as well as major GAA matches.”
Among the many top sports stars to play or compete at the grounds were the first GAA president Maurice Davin, Olympic gold medal-winning hammer thrower Dr Pat O’Callaghan and acclaimed athletes Eamonn Coghlan, John Treacy and Sonia O’Sullivan.
Roy Keane played there in the 1980s, as did English soccer international Raich Carter in the 1950s, while a succession of Cork teams – from Fordsons and Cork United to Cork Athletic, right up to Cork Hibernians in the early 1960s – used to play their home games at the Mardyke.
Ronan O’Gara also played at the Mardyke as did other Irish rugby internationals such as Tom Kiernan, Moss Keane and Jack Russell. Christy Ring hurled there for Cork, while Billy Morgan, Ray Cummins and Tom Kenny were among the Cork stars to line out for UCC.
On July 3rd, 1984, when hosting Cork City Sports, the Mardyke witnessed a world record when Russian hammer thrower Yuriy Sedykh broke several records in one evening, to the delight of the large crowd. Prof Murphy describes it as “an electrifying occasion”.
“It was an exciting book to work on and was very revealing in terms of UCC social history – the way that attitudes towards women participating is sport has changed, for example, was interesting.
“I hope I have succeeded in evoking the particular aspect of sport in UCC.”
Where Finbarr Playedwas launched at UCC last night by Bill O'Herlihy.
