Dick McRedmond

Source: At the Foot of Slieve Bloom - History & Folklore of Cadamstown, Paddy Heaney

Historians tell us the origin of fist fighting belongs to Greek mythology. The champion pugilist, Jack Brotighton, formulated the earliest prize ring code of rules, in England, on the 10th August 1743. The longest recorded fight with gloves was between Andy Bowen and Jack Burke in New Orleans, U.S.A., on the 7th April 1893. The fight lasted one hundred and ten rounds, seven hours and nineteen minutes, but was declared a no contest when both men were unable to continue. The longest bare-knuckle fight was one of six hours and fifteen minutes between James Kelly and Jack Smith at Melbourne, Australia, on the 19th October 1856. The greatest recorded number of rounds is 278 in four hours thirty minutes when Jack Jones beat Patsy Tunney in Cheshire in 1825.

The great Dan Donnelly fought George Cooper in Donnelly's Hollow on the plains of Kildare. This contest was a bare-knuckle fight, which has been talked about for generations and various accounts of the contest have been documented. The ballad makers praised the Great Dan in their compositions. Donnelly won that famous contest and earned for himself a niche in the boxing annals. The first world heavyweight title fight with gloves, and three-minute rounds, was between John L. Sullivan and Gentleman James J. Corbett in New Orleans, U.S.A., on the 7th September 1892. Corbett won in twenty-one rounds. Many young Irishmen in America made a name for themselves in the ring and many more of Irish descent are on the Roll of Honour.

Dick McRedmond, or Dick the Boxer as he was known locally, was born at the Curragh, Cadamstown, in 1906 into a very old farming family, which had farmed the lands of the Curragh for generations. His father was James McRedmond and his mother was Brigid Mulvey from the Gap Glen in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. He attended the local national school and was very fond of sport and hurling. From an early age he showed magnificent physique. At the age of nineteen, he was six feet three inches in height and was fourteen stone in weight. He hurled with the local school team. As one local said, "he was the makings of a good one". After leaving, he attended the Albert Agricultural College, Glasnevin, Dublin. On finishing his term at college, he was presented with the following reference:

"This is to certify that Richard McRedmond of Cadamstown, Birr, Kings Co. was a pupil in the College during the session October 1923 to August 1924. In addition to taking part in all the operations of a large tillage and dairy farm, Richard McRedmond attended lectures and classes in the principles of agriculture and the cognate sciences. He proved himself earnest, industrious and thoroughly reliable. Altogether I can in full confidence recommend Richard McRedmond for any post which he deems within his powers, being sure that he will discharge his duties intelligently and conscientiously."

He also attended the Vocational School, Tullamore. When leaving he was presented with the following certificate:

Scoil na gCeard, An Tulach Mhór, 27th. May 1925.

I know the bearer Richard McRedmond to be a high minded industrious and noble Irish boy, of lofty ideas, blameless character and possessing all the characteristics necessary for any position of trust. He is one of those we can badly spare from Ireland, magnificent physique and splendid moral character Gentle as a child, but with a super abundance of physical power. It is sad that our economic conditions are such that we must lose his type as the country is only slowly recovering from the disastrous effects of the Civil War. Only 19 years of age, though appearing from his splendid physique much more, he was too young fortunately to be connected with the Civil War which wrought so much harm.

I have every confidence in recommending him for expert work in agriculture. He only needs opportunity to make good. This certificate speaks for his practical and his skilled knowledge.

SIGNED
E.J.Delahunty-Principal,
Offaly County Committee,
Technical Education

In the year 1925, Dick McRedmond left his native Cadamstown for Australia. There he worked in Melbourne for some time before deciding to go to Sydney where he met his Uncle Dick, who introduced him to a sheep farmer who worked a farm in the great outback. Dick spent six months on the great plains where seldom you would see a human being. He returned to Sydney where he obtained a job in a foundry. It was quite by accident that Dick entered the boxing arena. Fr. Lloyd had a boxing club called St. Joseph's to which Dick was a frequent visitor. On a particular night, Fr. Lloyd invited Dick to spar with one of the club members and Dick agreed. He put up such a performance that he was invited to join the club. He fought his first bout for charity and so Dick McRedmond entered the world of boxing.

His first programmed fight was against Jim White of Queensland, a giant of a man, weighing seventeen stone. This Dick won easily and he was next matched against Jim R. Dwyer, a former heavyweight. The fight took place at Sydney Stadium and before the fight Dick was presented with a pair of green tights with gold harps. It was before this contest that Dick changed his name to Pat Redmond, by which name he was known during his boxing career. The fight with Dwyer was a tough contest but, after eight rounds, Pat Redmond knocked out his man.

His next fight was with James Pickering from New South Wales. Pickering stood six foot five and a half inches and eighteen stone in weight. He had fought all over America, Canada and Australia. He was a contender for the Australian heavyweight title. He was also a noted rugby player and was a favourite with the public. The Melbourne Star and Sydney Chronicle wrote before the fight, "Pickering is the best; he will show the Irishman how to fight". Pat Redmond was given no chance. The fight took place at Rushcutters Bay, Sydney, before a capacity crowd. The crowd cheered Pickering as he stepped into the ring. The small contingent of Irish followers made their presence felt when Pat Redmond climbed through the ropes wearing his green tights with the gold harps.

From the first round, the Irishman followed Pickering round the ring. In the first and second rounds, Pickering went to pieces. In the third round, he hit the middle rope and then fell on his face from a perfect knockout. Pat Redmond's next fight was with ex-heavyweight champion Jack Leahy. This was a fifteen rounder and the papers remarked that the eighteen stone Irish giant was in great shape. He certainly was, for he knocked out Leahy in the fourth round. Redmond did not get much time to relax. His next contest was with Harry Gill, whom he knocked out in the second round.

Pat Redmond's next fight was with Wally Walker. The Sydney Sportsman, described the fight as follows: "In tile first round Walker hit the big Irishman flush in the eye, then Pat got slightly wild, he rushed at Walker with murder in his heart. He floored Walker to the canvas where he was counted out." Redmonds next contest was with Blackie Payne, which was a fifteen round contest. This fight did not live up to expectations as Pat beat Payne inside three rounds. The only fight Pat Redmond lost in his bid for the Australian heavyweight title was against Dom McLeoid, the Melboune heavyweight. McLeoid knocked out the Irishman in the seventh round. This did not deter Pat. He was back again in the ring against Vic Simmons. This fight went on for seven rounds when a police inspector stopped the fight and so saved Simmons from a knockout. This fight was brought up in the House of Commons under the heading "Boxing Brutality. Questions in Parliament. When the assembly met yesterday, Mr. Fitzpatrick asked the Chief Secretary (Mr. Bruntkell) if he had seen the fight between Simmons and McRedmond; he was told it was disgraceful and brutal. He asked the Minister, "Would he prevent a repetition of such a thing happening again". He also read a report from inspector Scott of the police department who observed the contest."

Pat Redmond's next fight was with Blackie Miller. Miller had just returned from America where he lost to Tom Heaney. Miller then beat Johnny Squires of England. He beat the German, Ludwig, in three rounds; he also outpointed Marcell Nilles of France; he beat Martin Bourke in Madison Square Gardens. He lost again to Tom Heaney. He then fought Krute Hansen, Harry Willis, Jack Delaney and Johnny Rusko. He then lost to Jack Skarkey. These fights were in preparation for the contest with Pat Redmond. The Miller-Redmond fight took place at Rushcutters Bay, Sydney, on Tuesday, September 21st 1929. The Sydney News reported as follows:

"Miller started as favourite as he stepped into the ring to face the giant Irishman Pat Redmond. In the first round, Miller scored all the points and received a great ovation from the large crowd at Rushcutters Bay Sydney. In the second round the Irishman began to warm up and he drove Miller against the ropes before the bell sounded. The third round Miller tried to hit Pat everwhere, from his instep to the top of his head. Being an Irish man, Pat did not like this so he decided to finish it. Brushing Millers attempts at his jaw aside, Pat pranced up and down, he then let fly with the left hook to Millers jaw, then a straight right to the body and Millers head hit the boards. After the count of ten he was carried from the ring and Pat Redmond was champion again. Now Pat was in line for the Australian heavyweight title against Bill Brogan the reigning champion."

The Saturday Evening Post Sydney May 29th.1929 reported the contest as follows:

"Pat Redmond weighing eighteen and a half stone and standing six feet five inches was the first to swing his huge frame through the ropes and Brogan wearing a New South Wales rugby sweater followed soon after amid the cheers of the crowd. The fans to a man were with Brogan and they gave him a great reception when he stripped for the fray. When the men squared up in the middle of the ring, Redmond in his usual orthodox fashion, Brogan rushed him but Redmond kept him at bay with an arm like a tree trunk. Brogan then rushed him to the ropes and pounded his body, crashed home a left to the body and swinging his right to the jaw, Redmond fell. He took several seconds before he rose to his feet. Brogan then dashed into the attack, Redmond held him off with his left hand and placed solid rights to the body. The round ended with both men trading punches in the centre of the ring. Redmond commenced the next round in style; he started off with rights to Brogan's face and soon had the blood flowing from the nose. The men had the huge crowd roaring with excitement. When Brogan nailed Redmond to the ropes, Redmond took it all in good part and boxed on, stabbing his left and shooting his right into Brogan's ribs. Halfway through the round Brogan began to slow down, he had to wait for Redmond to come to him. The giant Irish man gave him no rest, he attacked fiercely the whole time and when Brogan returned to his corner, his face covered with blood, he was a weary fighter. Redmond apparently took notice of the advice offered him in his corner, for he started the next round with a flurry of blows, lefts to Brogan's damaged nose and rights to the body had the Australian on the canvas. He just beat the count and rose to his feet to meet another battering which spilled him again. Again he staggered to his feet, hardly able to raise his arms and after making one last dying effort by swinging a terrific right at Redmond's jaw, Redmond then battered him to the canvas for the full count. The crowd did not take it well over Redmond's victory. They saved their cheers for Brogan as he left the ring and so Pat Redmond, the giant Irishman, had won the Australian heavyweight championship.

After winning the title, various fighters were put up against him; he took them all in his stride. And so Redmond was matched against Primo Camera for the world heavyweight championship. The Irish fans all over the world waited for the contest. The New York Herald wrote;

And so the Irish giant Pat Redmond met Primo Camera for the world title. Camera won by a knockout in the first round. Many experts in boxing circles have stated, "Had Redmond weathered the first round he would undoubtedly have beaten Carnera. It was also stated that Pat needed a little more training; in this his manager was to blame. Beyond doubt, Pat proved himself a fighter.

It was recorded they were the biggest pair of fighters that ever graced the ring. Redmond had a special pair of gloves made for him, as the ordinary gloves would not fit his large hands. Pat also wore his favourite green trunks with the gold harps which were presented to him after his first fight by Fr. Lloyd of Melbourne.

Whenever lovers of boxing meet, Pat Redmond's name is remembered. He stood alone in Australia and was admired by all nationalities. He carved a name for himself in the world of boxing, he settled on a farm in Co. Limerick where he died a young man. Whenever great men are talked about on the slopes of the Slieve Blooms, the name of Dick McRedmond will always be remembered as one of Cadamstown's favourite sons.

I am most grateful for the information I received and permission to write the story of Dick McRedmond from the following; Tom and Mary McRedmond, Castleconnell, Co. Limerick, Jim McRedmond Curragh, Cadamstown, John McRedmond Kinnitty, Mary Spollen Daingean Rd. Tullamore and David McRedmond, Canberra.

Back to List

Site Hosted by Dotser

A-Z of Offaly - About Offaly - Community History - Famous People - Photographs - Maps - Town Crests - 19th Century Offaly