Jimmy Brady

Jimmy Brady was one of the stars of Dublin’s Clontarf Swimming and Water Polo Club in the years before and after World War I. In 1911 he finished second to George Dockrell in the 440 yards on his debut in the Ireland Swimming Championships and two years later was the national 220 yards freestyle champion. Brady was also the Clontarf SC 110 and 220 champion on many occasions either side of World War I.

One of Ireland’s best defenders, Brady was also a member of the Clontarf water polo team and he and team-mate Stewart Barrett were in the Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland) team that made its Olympic debut at Paris in 1924. They were also in the Irish squad that won gold at the inaugural Tailteann Games in Dublin shortly after the Olympics. Unfortunately, what would have been a memorable year was ruined by illness at the end of the season, which resulted in Brady missing the Leinster Cup final against Dublin.

Brady was selected for his second Olympics at Amsterdam four years later as a travelling reserve with Henry Ellerker for the water polo squad. Brady was also selected for the 4x200 freestyle relay, but Ireland withdrew. In the 1920s, Brady regularly took part in Dublin’s famous Liffey Swim and eventually became one of the race’s judges. He was also president of Clontarf SC, and continued swimming and playing water polo competitively beyond the age of 40.