Eamonn Kinsella

Eamonn Kinsella was born in the Dublin suburb of Rialto and raised in Dimnagh, where he attended the St. James’s Christian Brothers School. He was very tall as a youngster (6-4 (193) at the age of 18). Had basketball been more prominent in Ireland at the time, it could well have been his chosen sport instead of athletics.

After an unimpressive record as a 100 metres runner, coach Jack Sweeney, who also coached Olympic champion Ronnie Delany, suggested the tall youngster Kinsella tried hurdling in 1950, and it paid immediate dividends as he won the NACAI National title in 1951. Kinsella joined the Guinness brewing company and was a member of the company’s St. James’ Gate Athletics Club before joining the crack Donore Harriers in 1954, when his career took off.

In 1954, Kinsella made his international début, was third in the AAAs at London, and won the first of four consecutive Irish 120 yards hurdles (IAAB) titles. The year’s highlight, however, was in reaching the 110 H final at the European Athletics Championships in Berne. Kinsella finished fifth, and it was the highest ever place by an Irishman in the Championships until Delany’s bronze four years later.

Kinsell competed in the 110 metres hurdles at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. He finished fourth in his heat and missed out in a semi-final place by 0.01 second after a photo-finish. Kinsella had to find £950 to fund his passage to Melbourne, but thanks to the generosity of friends and Guinness staff members, he found the money, although it slightly soured his Olympic experience before it had started. In 1957, Kinsella became the first Irishman since Dan Bulger in 1892 to win the AAA sprint hurdles title when he beat the defending champion Peter Hildreth into second place. Coincidentally, Delany won the AAA 880 title on the same day. Kinsella took part in his second European Championships in 1958 but failed to make the final. He quit athletics the following year after winning 13 Irish titles between 1951-58. Arthritis eventually forced him to retire early from his job at Guinness in 1985. Sadly, most of his athletics trophies and medals were later stolen in a burglary at his Dublin home.

Personal Best: 110H – 14.2y (1957).