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We're all invited to The North Mayo Heritage Centre on Friday

We're all invited to The North Mayo Heritage Centre on Friday

Michael Gallagher18 Sep 2019 - 10:19
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Intriguing exhibition

A wonderful exhibition, titled Lost Legends; Mayo’s Enigmatic Sports Stars will open in The North Mayo Heritage Centre on Friday and we're all invited. The event runs from 4 to 6pm and Ballina RFC have been asked along to find out more about a man from Killasser who became the first professional rugby player from Connacht.

Our friends at The North Mayo Heritage Centre have researched and curated a number of exhibitions which are displayed in the centre with FREE admission.
County Mayo has had a long history of emigration for reasons of economics or famine. Men and women left their homes to travel all over the world seeking a better life. This exhibition tells the unique ‘untold’ stories of four such people who would go on to excel in sport in their adopted countries.

Pat Tunney, Killasser, Co Mayo. B 1872. A miner at Croxdale Colliery, Co Durham. Probably Connacht’s first ever pro rugby player. Played union for Durham City RFC then Rugby League with Salford RFC. Played in the first-ever Rugby League international fixture.

Jim Donnelly, Clare St, Ballina, Co Mayo. B 1899 Blackburn Rovers: Defender. Debut 1920. Played for three other sides in an eight-year playing career. Became a football coach in London. His career took him abroad and he was appointed Austria national coach in 1938. Stints as manager or coach at Fenerbahce, Inter Milan and elsewhere.

Jimmy Walsh, Killala, Co Mayo. B. 1887. Two time winner of the World Series with NY Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Made Connie Mack’s All Time Irish Greats team and was one of the last Irish born players in MLB bringing to a close a period of extraordinary Irish dominance in the game.

Jimmy Murphy, San Francisco, B. 1894. His mother emigrated from Crossmolina, Co Mayo to California and his dad from Wexford. Dazzling career in Speedway and motor racing. Winning debut at the Hollywood Speedway in Los Angeles. Won Indy 500, European Grand Prix and twice American drivers’ champion. Killed in racing accident in 1924.

This exhibition will open on Friday 20th September with a special preview event and will run until 3rd November 2019. A number of talks and workshops will take place while the exhibition is in place.
Admission is free and you don’t have to be a sports fan to enjoy it.

Further reading