School: Cill Mhíde (C.), Caisleán Nua (roll number 7959)

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1. A Famous Athlete

   

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   We are proud of the fact that a famous weight thrower lived in our locality in bygone days. His name was John "Stretch" Walsh of Heathfield, Kilmeedy Co Limerick. We are told that he was seven feet high and broad in proportion. He has many records to his name, and won many a challenge. He used to sling a fifty-six lbs. weight to a distance of twenty four feet. He gave up his weight throwing in Ireland, and emigrated to America where he joined a circus as a weight lifter. One of his most remarkable feats was the lifting of a pony and cart containing four people. The cart was placed on a scale, with two straps attached, which he placed around his neck, and then lifted the whole thing. He could also poise a two hundred lbs weight above his head with one hand. He was last heard of in Boston city.

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   Topics

   1. agents (~1)
      1. historical persons (~5,068)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Kitty Donegan

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Ballinruane, Co. Limerick

   Informant

   William Donegan

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   85

   Address

   Kilmeedy, Co. Limerick