History 1950-1990

  • 1952 Ireland represented similarly in Helsinki.
  • 1954 Another major attempt to bring a settlement, this time involving the Olympic Council of Ireland, proved a failure.
  • 1956 Ronnie Delany won the 1500m in the Melbourne Olympic Games. Another effort at resolution of the dispute was set up by AAUE secretary Louis Vendendries but proved unsuccessful.
  • 1958 Ireland’s first modern athletics stadium at Santry, the brainchild of Billy Morton of Clonliffe Harriers, was opened. Herb Elliott sets a new world record for the mile at Santry.
  • 1967 Following discussions between various parties over the previous two years, both NACAI and AAUE agreed to dissolve and form a new association, Bord Luthchleas na hEireann (BLE). The advisor who helped to bring this about was Judge J C Conroy. A section of the NACAI refused to dissolve and continued in existence until 1999.
  • 1968 The budget provided £100,000 which the following year saw the introduction of Government grants for sports bodies.
  • 1973 The International Cross Country Championship was replaced by an annual World Cross Country Championship, the fi rst of which was held in Belgium that year. 1978 John Treacy won the World Senior Cross Country Championship in Glasgow.
  • 1979 Ireland successfully hosted the World Cross Country Championship in Limerick and around 20,000 people saw John Treacy retain his title.
  • 1982 BLE purchases new headquarters at 11 Prospect Road , Glasnevin, from profit from the World Cross Country in Limerick 1979
  • 1983 Eamonn Coghlan wins gold in the 5000m at the Inaugural World Track and Field Championship in Helsinki.
  • 1984 John Treacy won the silver medal in his marathon debut at the Los Angeles Olympics
  • 1987 A working agreement was signed between BLE and NACAI. With North South Athletics relations much improved, all athletes who wished to represent Ireland in international competition could now do so.
  • 1987 Marcus O’Sullivan (1500m) and Frank O’Mara (3000m) win Gold Medals for Ireland in the inaugural World Indoor Championships in Indianopolis
  • 1990 Ireland’s first and only permanent indoor IAAF certified track opens in Nenagh

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