Tony Byrne (boxer)

Anthony Byrne (6 July 1930 – 27 April 2013), commonly known as Tony Byrne or Socks Byrne,[1] was an amateur boxer. Byrne won a bronze medal for Ireland at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, in the lightweight division.

For others named Anthony Byrne or Tony Byrne, see Anthony Byrne (disambiguation).

Tony Byrne
Statue by Laury Dizangremel in Drogheda
Personal information
Full nameAnthony Byrne
Nickname(s)Socks
Born(1930-07-06)6 July 1930
Drogheda, Ireland
Died27 April 2013(2013-04-27) (aged 82)
Medal record
Men’s boxing
Representing  Ireland
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1956 Melbourne Lightweight

Early life and career

Byrne was born in Drogheda, Ireland. Doubt had been cast over whether Byrne would have the funds to travel to Melbourne to participate in the 1956 Olympics. However, a fundraising campaign under the banner of "Send Byrne to Melbourne" was created, and it raised £653 from local businesses in Drogheda to send him on his quest for glory down under.

Melbourne Olympics

Byrne carried the flag for Ireland at the opening ceremony and was the captain of the Irish boxing team. He beat opponents from Czechoslovakia and United States before losing in the semifinal on a split decision to Harry Kurschat of Germany.[2][3] A few months later, he showed what might have been when he beat the eventual Gold Medallist, Dick McTaggart, in an Ireland-England International at the Royal Albert Hall.

Olympic results

Life after boxing

In 1962, Byrne, and his wife Honor, emigrated to Canada. The Byrne's settled in Canada and have a family of two girls and a set of twin boys. In 2006 a statue of Byrne was unveiled in his hometown.[4]

He died on 27 April 2013, aged 82.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Melbourne Olympics bronze medallist Tony 'Socks' Byrne dies aged 82". rte.ie/news. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  2. Liam Reilly. "1956 - A year to remember for Drogheda". IrishBoxing.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2006.
  3. CATHOLINE BUTLER. "Drogheda Prepares to Unveil a Statue of Its Favourite Son". Celtic Connection On-line. Archived from the original on 30 October 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2006.
  4. Kavanagh, Caroline (6 December 2006). "Tony gives it socks as statue unveiled". drogheda-independent.ie. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  5. "Melbourne Olympics bronze medallist Tony 'Socks' Byrne dies aged 82". Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). 27 April 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
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