Ireland's greatest all-round athlete and its first Olympic gold medallist over 90 years ago is to be celebrated in an exhibition opening in his native county, Tipperary, tomorrow.
Tom Kiely, who was born at Ballyneale, near Carrick-on-Suir, in 1869, won the all-round event in St Louis, US, in 1904, part of an outstanding 20-year sporting career. His many medals, trophies, photographs and memorabilia make up the Kiely collection in the Tipperary (South Riding) County Museum in Clonmel. They will be displayed there, together with a special multimedia presentation, over the coming months.
Kiely was never beaten in an all-round competition (the event which later became the decathlon). He broke world records with the hammer and 56lb weight, won numerous Irish and international championships and holds the record for the highest number of senior GAA medals.
Described as a tall, lithe and handsome man, he competed successfully in many events, winning championships in all weight classes and in the long jump; the hop, step and jump; and hurdles. He also played football for Tipperary and hurled for Munster in the first inter-provincial match of the modern game.
He won his first Irish all-round championship in 1892 and a month later took seven GAA championships in one afternoon, still a record. He won five English hammer titles in six years and two world all-round titles.
Both the British and American teams approached him to represent them in the 1904 Olympics and promised to pay his fare and expenses. However, Kiely insisted he would represent Ireland. He scraped the fare together by selling trophies and prizes.
The all-round competition in St Louis involved 10 events taking place in one afternoon. On July 4th, Independence Day, in a blinding rainstorm, he beat the best in the world and collected his gold medal.
Irish communities around the world went wild and he was feted everywhere on a tour of the US. He arrived home to public receptions and addresses and became a national hero. Two years later, he went back to the US and won the world all-round championship again, this time by a huge margin, just before his 37th birthday.
The museum's multi-media exhibition will be a celebration of his sporting career. It is also publishing a booklet on his life and achievements.