Henry Dixon (Gaelic footballer)

Henry Patrick Dixon (2 March 1918 – 29 December 1998) was an Irish Gaelic footballer. He played with a number of clubs, including Garrymore and Claremorris, and also lined out at inter-county level with the Mayo senior football team.

Henry Dixon
Personal information
Irish name Anraí Mac Riocaird
Sport Gaelic football
Position Centre-back
Born (1918-03-02)2 March 1918
Claremorris,
County Mayo, Ireland
Died 29 December 1998(1998-12-29) (aged 80)
Tuam,
County Galway, Ireland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Nickname Henry the horse
Occupation Publican
Club(s)
Years Club
 Carramore
Garrymore
Mayo Abbey
Claremorris
Club titles
Mayo titles 1
Inter-county(ies)
Years County
1947-1954
 Mayo
Inter-county titles
Connacht titles 3
All-Irelands 2
NFL 2

Career

Dixon's club career spanned four decades and four different clubs. After beginning his career with Carramore and Garrymore, he won a Mayo JFC title with Mayo Abbey in 1944.[1] Dixon won a second junior title, this time with the Claremorris club, in 1960. He claimed a Mayo SFC medal with Claremorris in 1961 before bringing his club career to an end with a man of the match display in a defeat by Ballina Stephenites in 1962.

Dixon first appeared for Mayo in 1939, however, his emigration to England that year halted his inter-county progress. In 1944 he played with the Mayo junior team, while also making a few appearances for the senior team.[2] Dixon was a non-playing substitute when Mayo were beaten by Cavan in the 1948 All-Ireland final. He became a regular member of the team the following year and claimed his first silverware after victory in the National League.

Dixon was at centre-back when Mayo claimed back-to-back All-Ireland SFC titles after defeats of Louth in 1950 and Meath in 1951.[3] He continued to line out for Mayo until 1954. His inter-county performances also earned inclusion on the Connacht team, with Dixon winning a Railway Cup medal in 1951.[4]

Personal life and death

Dixon was born into a farming family just outside Claremorris in March 1918.[5] He spent a number of years working in England g World War II. After returning home, Dixon opened his own pub in Claremorris in 1956.[6]

Dixon died after a period of illness on 29 December 1998, at the age of 80.[7]

Honours
Mayo Abbey
Claremorris
Mayo
Connacht

References
  1. "History of Mayo Gaels". Mayo Gaels GAA website.
  2. "Henry Dixon, a Mayo great". Mayo News. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  3. "Oliver Dixon: the man who rubbed shoulders with European royalty". Western People. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  4. "Henry Dixon's medals on display in St. Colman's Credit Union Claremorris". Claremorris CU website. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  5. "Henry Dixon". Irish Genealogy website. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  6. "10 years on, Nally still prays for raider he killed". Irish Independent. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  7. "Henry Dixon, legendary Mayo football, dies at 81". Mayo News. 6 January 1999. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
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