Irish Olympic Council’s attitude ‘niggardly and mean’

Published in 20th-century / Contemporary History, Features, Issue 4 (July/August 2012), Volume 20

The aftermath of the games highlighted the fragile nature of relations between the Irish Olympic Council and the FAIFS. There had been a mix-up over deadlines for the submission of the squad, while the FAIFS also made it known that it had no involvement in the choice of either the colours or the national anthem. The extent of the differences was revealed at the AGM of the FAIFS in August 1924, when the chairman, J.F. Harrison, criticised the absence of assistance, financial or otherwise, from the Irish Olympic Council. He even claimed that the FAIFS had met with strong opposition from John J. Keane, who, he said, had refused to process the visa applications for the footballers. Harrison characterised the Irish Olympic Council’s attitude to the FAIFS as ‘niggardly and mean’ and said that the association should take steps to be represented on the council ahead of the next games. Whatever the political in-fighting, the footballers’ place on the first page of the Irish Olympic record books was assured.

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