Irish town never forgot boxer and Olympian
Olympian moved to Edmonton in 1962, but never forgot his roots
When Tony Byrne began boxing as a young boy in Ireland he wore socks into the ring. His hard-working mother, who kept the family of eight kids together on meagre earnings from cleaning a church in the 1930s, couldn’t afford the proper boots.
The local boxing club in the town of Drogheda, Ireland, soon came up with the footwear for their promising junior, though the moniker Tony “Socks” Byrne stuck. The driven young athlete repaid the club with an impressive string of wins in Britain, across Europe, the United States and Canada.
Byrne lost only seven of 208 fights during his boxing career, said daughter Lisa Byrne, who lives in Edmonton.
The high point for Byrne and his beloved hometown came during the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Therein lies another classic Irish tale.
In those days, athletes had to pay their own way to the Olympics, so the event was largely the domain of privileged young men from the upper classes. Byrne, by then a well-known boxing champion in his mid-20s, was working as the town bread man making deliveries with a horse and cart. He had no cash and few prospects in the hardscrabble times of post-Second World War Ireland.
But the town loved its boxer and rallied to send “the people’s champion” to the big games. The hat was passed in factories, pubs, at whist drives and in local commercial establishments to pay his way.
Byrne didn’t disappoint. He boxed his way to a bronze medal for Drogheda and for Ireland as one of 12 people on the Irish team that year.
Shortly after, Byrne married Honor, “the prettiest girl in Drogheda.” In 1962, they moved to Edmonton, where they raised a family of four — Ruth, twin boys John and Tony, and Lisa.
Tony Byrne, a charmer and witty Irishman died at his home in Edmonton on April 27, 2013. He was 82.
Within 24 hours, the mayor of Drogheda had heard the news and called across the ocean to the Edmonton family, to say he wanted to bring the boxer home, said Lisa. For that is where Bryne had left his heart so many years ago.
After the May 2 service at St. Michael’s Resurrection Catholic Church in Edmonton, Byrne’s body was flown back to Ireland.
For more than 30 years, the Byrne family built a good life in Edmonton. Tony Byrne worked at a local meat-packing plant and later on a city maintenance crew. He and Honor were active in their church and became pillars of the Irish immigrant community.
Byrne helped out at a north Edmonton boxing club for kids who needed a chance and a place to go — just like he did.
Like so many immigrants, her father worked much of the time, Lisa said. But in the evening, their house was full of Irish song, story and poetry.
“I grew up watching grown men cry while they recited poetry. So many felt sad about leaving Ireland.”
Ireland always tugged and Drogheda kept the flame alive. In 2006, on the 50th anniversary of his Olympic victory, the town pulled together again and erected a life-size statue of Byrne in his honour.
That’s because he was more than boxing champion there, said Lisa. With much of Ireland stuck in poverty, Tony’s drive, hard work, competitive spirit and success represented hope.
“He reminded people there could be something good around the corner,” Lisa said.
“He was a true Drogheda man. He cared for his neighbours. As the bread man, he went from door to door, so he knew what there was to eat in each household. He knew if a family was short and he’d find a way to leave something.”
When the family returned from Ireland earlier in May, leaving Tony’s body behind, Lisa said it was a moment mixed with anguish, pride and nostalgia.
It’s not easy to share your father with a place an ocean away, “even though everyone in the town said they will look after him,” she said. “It’s very strange that he’s not here. That’s a hard thing. “
But the Irish ceremony was magical, said Lisa, who works in the film industry in Edmonton.
“We walked through the town behind the hearse to St. Peter’s cathedral. He spent his last night in the church,” she said.
“The next day was the funeral. When mass ended, the mayor and councillors walked in front of the hearse down the street. The youngsters from the same local boxing club walked along as guards on either side. Many townspeople joined the procession. As we walked down the street, they closed the shops and cars stopped. People came out of their houses, stood quietly by their doors and crossed themselves to pay respects. We walked through Tony’s neighbourhood to the cemetery.”
At the gravesite, the town poet, released from hospital for the day, read a poem from his wheelchair.
When the sombre ceremonies ended, the celebration began. People gathered to tell stories, sing and celebrate Byrne’s welllived life.
“He had a passion in life — to work hard, to protect us, to sing, and to live life for the moment,” Lisa said.
“I have a lot of Tony Byrne in me and I will carry on.”