Cycling history - Walker brothers

Qualitymark

Michael and John Walker, who cycled for the Great Britain team in the Olympics - or as they reckoned, for the Irish team; they're said to have shinned up the flagpole and changed the Union Jack for an Irish flag - also fought in 1916 -

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0139.pdf

They were apparently from Fairview, but I can't find them there in the 1911 Census. Does anyone know any more about them, and why John Walker didn't give evidence to the Bureau of Military History - had he died or emigrated by the time those records were made?

Zyzz

Ironic second name :pac:

Qualitymark

No need for limited thinking. Early cyclists didn't:

funnights74

Qualitymark wrote: »

Michael and John Walker, who cycled for the Great Britain team in the Olympics - or as they reckoned, for the Irish team; they're said to have shinned up the flagpole and changed the Union Jack for an Irish flag - also fought in 1916 -

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0139.pdf

They were apparently from Fairview, but I can't find them there in the 1911 Census. Does anyone know any more about them, and why John Walker didn't give evidence to the Bureau of Military History - had he died or emigrated by the time those records were made?

Maybe it's the photograph but that's some freaky saddle position :eek:

Qualitymark

funnights74 wrote: »

Maybe it's the photograph but that's some freaky saddle position :eek:

Standard at the time, I suspect:




(from Bartleet's Bicycle Book)

mirv

Not trying to drag this off topic too much, but I'll take your water-cycle and raise you some hydrofoil bicycles! Music is ace too.

Qualitymark

Oooh. I want one of those!

The Crunch

Qualitymark wrote: »

No need for limited thinking. Early cyclists didn't:

Is that the famous racing driver SF Edge in the middle of that contraption? His win in the 1902 Gordon Bennett indirectly led to the creation of Irish road racing of the motorised variety...

Qualitymark

The Crunch wrote: »

Is that the famous racing driver SF Edge in the middle of that contraption? His win in the 1902 Gordon Bennett indirectly led to the creation of Irish road racing of the motorised variety...

Very likely. Cycling and competitive driving were intertwined in the late 19th and early 20th century in Ireland.

The Crunch

Qualitymark wrote: »

Very likely. Cycling and competitive driving were intertwined in the late 19th and early 20th century in Ireland.

Edge was English and, according to his wiki page, a racing cyclist of some note. Well it excites me!

As for the Walker Brothers, I'd love to read more about them. There's got to be a TG4 docco in it!

Qualitymark

The Crunch wrote: »

Edge was English and, according to his wiki page, a racing cyclist of some note. Well it excites me!

As for the Walker Brothers, I'd love to read more about them. There's got to be a TG4 docco in it!

I'm surprised that none of their family has appeared here to post about them. Might crosslink to the history forum.

Qualitymark

Found a little more online:

A talented sportsman, [Michael Walker] competed in 1912 Stockholm Olympics as a Road Cyclist, was the fifty mile Irish Road Champion and also was a founding member of Old St. Mary’s Football Club. The Stephen’s Cup and other cycling trophies awarded to him are now held in the National Museum’s collection.

I've never seen these trophies on display in the National Museum - have you? Is it time to ask for a major exhibition on Irish cycling in the museum? The Ulster Museum of Folk and Transport History (I think it's called) has some Irish-made bicycles, Pierces from Dublin and Wexford, etc. An exhibition might bring new material in from the attics…!

morana

Qualitymark wrote: »

Found a little more online:



I've never seen these trophies on display in the National Museum - have you? Is it time to ask for a major exhibition on Irish cycling in the museum? The Ulster Museum of Folk and Transport History (I think it's called) has some Irish-made bicycles, Pierces from Dublin and Wexford, etc. An exhibition might bring new material in from the attics…!

I will head over at lunch and see if they have any info on the trophys or the lads

Qualitymark

morana wrote: »

I will head over at lunch and see if they have any info on the trophys or the lads

Brilliant! Thanks!

morana

Went to the National Museum here in Kildare sts and asked. The stuff isnt there and most likely is up in Collins Barracks. If you ring the Duty officer there today he is an expert in all matters 1916 and he should have a better idea.

Qualitymark

Hm. Was in their weapons section, held a pike from 1798… didn't see any bikes or trophies offhand, but will ask.

Weepsie

The NLI has a couple of pictures of Michael Walker digitised in their catalogue. They've a couple from the 1960s including one where he is showing his medals and trophies (I assume a mix of military and sporting) and an older one from when he was in service

http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000269864

http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000269692

molders

Hi I bought Michael Walkers medals when they came up for sale in 2007 and I have researched his life story since. He did indeed represent Ireland in the 200 mile road race at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912 and he received a participants medal (first two photos) along with a participants pin. He finished first of the Irish riders with a time of 12 hours 27 minutes. In addition to this he won lots of other soccer, rugby and cycling medals (last two photos). He fought in Jacobs in 1916 and died in March 1971.

Qualitymark

Wow, beautiful!

In the cross-posted link in the History forum, Feargale mentions that History Ireland had an issue devoted to Irish Olympians in 2012, which included an article on cycling. Here it is, I think:

http://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/cycling-spokes-and-political-strokes/

feargale

If you google Great Britain at the 1912 Summer Olympics you will get detailed information on the performances of all the Irish cyclists at Stockholm 1912, both in the individual and team event. Incidentally one of them was a guy named Mecredy. I reckon this was either the guy who published a motoring/cycling magazine in Dublin for a few years around the turn of the 20th century, and who is credited with starting the sport of bicycle polo ( now popular only in the Indian subcontinent, ) or if not he is then almost certainly a relative of his. That magazine is available in the National Library.

Qualitymark

Yes, same Mecredy. The magazine he published was The Irish Cyclist, widely regarded (with what accuracy I don't know) as the world's first cycling magazine.