J J Keane, First President Of NACAI Is Remembered - Athletics Ireland
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J J Keane, First President Of NACAI Is Remembered

8 April 2007

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That J J Keane was one of the most important sports administrator of the first half of the 20th century was abundandly clear following an erudite address delivered by Dr Cyril White after a wreath-laying ceremony in Glasnevin Cemetery last Sunday. An appreciative audience which included many former Presidents of Athletics Ireland and the current OCI President Pat Hickey were entralled by the history surrounding them for immediately to the right of JJ Keane's grave was that of General Eoin O'Duffy and in front of that Kitty Kiernan and close by Michael Collins. John James Keane was born in Anglesboro, Co Limerick on the 14th April 1871 and died in Dublin on Easter Sunday 1st April 1956. As a sportsperson he had the distinction of winning two All Ireland medals for Gaelic Football as well as winning the Irish 120 yards hurdles in athletics. But it was as an administrator that he made the most impact in Irish sporting society. His outstanding achievements can be summarised as follows: In 1922 he founded the National Athletic and Cycling Association of Ireland ( NACAI ). This was an amalgamation of the Irish Amatuer Athletic Association and the Athletics Council of the GAA. J J Keane became the first president. The NACAI affiliated to the IAAF as the member for Ireland and J J Keane became Ireland's member on the IAAF Council. In 1923 J J Keane founded the Irish Olympic Council (subsequently became Olympic Council of Ireland ) and became its first president. He had been elected to membership of the International Olympic Committee in 1922 on the proposal of IOC President Baron Pierre de Coubertin. While General Eoin O'Duffy succeeded him as president of the OCI in 1931 J J Keane continued as an IOC member until 1951 when Lord Killanin succeeded him. The Tailteann Games held in 1924,1928 and 1932 were enormously successful. In the inaugural Games Keane was Director of Athletics and did a similar funtion in 1928. For the 1932 Games Keane was appointed by the Government to take charge of the entire Tailteann Games; a considerable distinction. For such a distinguished career it is sad to relate that the name of J J Keane has been largely forgotten. The wreath-laying by AAI President Michael Heery, while belated, was an appropriate gesture. Its significance was particularly apt as the chain of office of the AAI President worn at the ceremony was none other than that worn by the first president J J Keane some 85 years earlier. Liam Hennessy Link

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