Mullingar mourns the passing of a sporting legend
The sad news of the passing of of Eamonn ‘The Killer’ Byrne emerged on Wednesday, March 19 and it's fair to say his passing will be mourned throughout Mullingar and Westmeath.
Eamonn was one of the Honorary Presidents of the Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Club, a recognition earned for decades of extraordinary service. The Killer was loved in Mullingar Shamrocks, a gentleman and a gentle man.
Boxing was the main sporting outlet for young boys growing up in Mullingar in the 1940s and the sport had the approval of Church and State. Underage GAA was practically non-existent and Mullingar had a significant boxing tradition based partly on the achievements of Chris Cole, and Maxi McCullagh who represented Ireland in the 1948 Olympic Games and became European Champion in Oslo in 1949.
As a member of St Mary’s Boxing Club, The Killer was one of the new stars of Mullingar boxing in the 1950s and won several titles as a juvenile. Graduating to adult boxing, he won the Leinster junior light-welter weight title in 1952. The victory brought immediate promotion and he was included in an Ireland selection for a contest staged in Athlone, against a German selection, a decision that was justified when The Killer defeated his experienced German opponent. He also outpointed Fred Tiedt in the National Stadium in 1952. Boxing fans would know that Tiedt won an Olympic silver medal in 1956 in Melbourne and probably tops the extensive list of those who were robbed of a gold medal by doubtful judging. The Germans returned to Ireland in 1953 and this time an international contest was staged in The County Hall in April. Once again The Killer’s arm was raised in victory as his German opponent was disqualified for one low blow too many. In 1954 ‘the young well built, good looking fair-haired youth’ was selected to travel to Germany as a member of a Crumlin Boxing Club selection that fought in Frankfurt, Cassels and Fulborg. Later in the year, he represented Ireland at the National Stadium against Germany and against the British Army team in Stoke-on-Trent.
The Ireland of the 1950s was a bleak place and young people departed the island in droves for England and the USA in search of employment. The building trade at the time had little to offer and in March 1955, The Killer, a skilled block-layer, emigrated to London where he continued his boxing career with the Hornchurch and Elm Park Boxing Club, a club he represented for several years in numerous bouts across Britain. The club recognized his contribution by presenting him with a special trophy and belt in the early 1960s. He returned briefly to Mullingar in January 1956 to represent Ireland in an international contest against Scotland staged in the Hibernian Cinema. On this occasion, he had one of his finest bouts before losing on a split decision to Chic Calderwood, one of the all-time greats of Scottish boxing who went on to become British and British Empire champion as a professional and lost a world title bout to the great Jose Torres. The personality traits we were so familiar with were evident from the beginning. In 1954, the Westmeath Examiner reported that because of his ‘modest and gentlemanly behaviour, both inside and outside the ring, few boxers are more popular in the Stadium than Eddie’.
The Killer had great memories of the National Stadium. Sometime in the 1990s when the Cuban boxers dominated the world of amateur boxing, we paid the stadium a visit. On the night, the Ireland team were wiped out 10-0 or so. A few pints in The Stadium Club followed and The Killer fell asleep within minutes of the journey home beginning. Just as we passed by the church in Lucan, the The Killer briefly awakened and announced “You know something, I would have taken those Cubans in my day. I’d get under their jab”, and promptly returned to his slumbers. That was typical of The Killer – always looking at the positive.
After returning from England in the 1960s, The KIller became involved in the GAA and put the knowledge he accumulated in his boxing career to good use as a masseur with several teams. He served Westmeath hurling and football teams for several years and worked with Fr Troy, Mattie Kerrigan, Barney Rock, Brendan Lowry and Luke Dempsey. He was a valued member of Luke’s management team when Westmeath won the All-Ireland Minor and Under-21 All-Ireland titles and as Westmeath county senior manager.
However, we in Mullingar Shamrocks were privileged to have benefitted most from The Killer’s talents and expertise. He became part of the Shamrocks family in the mid-1980s and was ever-present in the dressing room and at Shamrocks gatherings at home and abroad for the best part of 30 years. A man with a heart of gold, he left a lasting impact on a generation of Shamrocks players who enjoyed unprecedented success in the 1986-2012 period when 9 senior championships were won. He was involved in an advisory capacity in 2012 keeping an eye on the apprentice masseur making sure that he used the correct mix in the potions! His association with Ritchie O’Donoghue began in 1983 when St Mary’s began their Leinster Colleges campaign.
The Killer’s magic hands and fingers treated thousands of backs, ankles, elbows and legs in dressing rooms across the county and province, and it’s almost an insult to the man’s memory to state that not a cent was looked for in return. The massage from The Killer was a key-part of the preparation for several of our players before a championship match and the Sunday morning rub in the Springfield dressing room was a crucial part of the ritual. Those powerful hands and sensitive fingers were able to penetrate tissue, access tightened muscles, and loosen them up for football action. And of course the massage was administered with The Killer’s special-mix liniment composed of poitín, wintergreen, turpentine, rosemary and God only knows what other secret ingredients were concocted by himself and Joe Weir. We didn’t realise it at the time but The Killer was a sports psychologist long before the concept was invented. In releasing those knotted muscles, he was building confidence and freeing-up minds to enable maximum performance. It is true to say, he massaged muscles and egos.
His good humour and big smiling personality radiating energy and positivity around the dressing rooms was contagious, calming and inspirational. The dressing room was the place to be in the presence of The Killer. His commitment to Shamrocks was total and he was always available for games regardless of their importance or timing. Quite simply, The Killer wouldn’t have understood the concept of not being available. He thought us to appreciate victories and celebrate in style and with respect for others.
In after-match gatherings and social occasions, The Killer was the life and soul of the party. He loved the microphone and had a wonderful singing ability and stage presence. His party pieces included Blueberry Hill, My Way, Hello Dolly, What a Wonderful World and New York New York. Some would claim that he out Sinatraed, the great Frank in his rendition of the New York classic. The singing talent was part of his DNA as his father was a member of a dance band back in the day. On Mullingar Shamrocks, first foreign tour to Blarney he shared a stage with the great Paddy Cole (the saxophone player not the footballer) for an impromptu performance. (Paddy Cole referred to our man as The Chiller). The Killer also travelled on all the Continental trips and on one notable occasion he went to Gran Canaria with Westmeath in the early noughties and arrived back just in time to join the Shamrocks travelling party going to the same destination. The Killer waited for us in Dublin Airport and joined the party. Needless to say, no water slide in the resort was challenging enough for the Chiller.
The Killer was an extraordinary man, “as good a friend as one could hope to have”. He loved his porter (“mother’s milk” or “singing porter” he called it) which he consumed with relish. An immaculate dresser (jacket and pants, collar and tie), neatness personified, a trait reflected in his immaculate garden with its incredible attention to detail; a beautiful dancer with his Lady wife Mai; a wonderful neighbour (“there was comfort and safety around him”); a talented block layer who liked to work with bricks or stone in particular. He was associated with several restoration projects: the lowering of the surrounding wall in St Loman’s was one of his projects as a stone mason and is a fine example of his work. Impeccable with his manners, he was loved the length and breadth of the county. In simple terms, a gentleman and a gentle man. Ní Bheidh A Leithéid Ann Arís.
Eamonn is survived by his wife Mai, his sons Eamonn, Declan and Frank, and his daughters Margaret and Clare. Sympathy is also extended to Eamonn’s brother Joe, to his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and to his extended family and friends.
Eamonn reposes at Shaw’s Funeral Home today (Friday) from 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm. Removal to the Cathedral of Christ the King at 6.30. Funeral Mass on Saturday morning at 11.00 am, followed by burial in Ballyglass Cemetery.
Ar Dheis Dé go Raibh a Anam.
Tribute by Dr Tom Hunt, Mullingar Shamrocks.