Danny O'Brien

Danny O’Brien was born in England to Irish, parents which made him eligible to represent Ireland at the 1960 Roma (Rome) Olympics. He went to the Games as the reigning Irish and Ulster lightweight champion and reached the third round before losing to the eventual silver medallist Sandro Lopopolo of Italy.

O’Brien served as a lance-corporal in the British Army with the 11th Hussars and was stationed at Omagh at the time of the Olympics. In 1959 he won both the Army and Imperial Services lightweight titles and reached the ABA final in London, but was beaten by Bobby Kane. Also in 1959, O’Brien reached the last 16 at the European Amateur Boxing Championships at Lucerne. O’Brien turned professional in November 1960 and in a three-year career won 18 of his 24 contests. O’Brien died on his 62nd birthday.