Billy Broderick

Billy Broderick swam at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. He was an Irish Champion over 220 yards and 440 yard freestyle, but his swimming is not what he best known for.

Broderick worked in the Belfast post office but his hobby was singing and with his deep voice, he became known as one of the great Irish basses of his era. His voice was described as “ … one of rare beauty. Deep and resonant as a cello, it had that indefinable character.” A fluent Gaelic speaker, he also helped preserve the language with many Irish broadcasts over Radio Eireann and the BBC’s North of Ireland station.